Friedl's reliability turns into power with 4 RBIs vs. White Sox

CINCINNATI -- On Friday, TJ Friedl’s leaping catch in right-center field robbed the White Sox’s Andrew Vaughn of a home run.

On Saturday, Friedl's drive to nearly the same spot cleared the outfield wall for a three-run, go-ahead home run that gave the Reds a lead in the fifth inning. Two innings later, his triple brought home Jonathan India as an insurance run to pad the slim margin in a 5-3 Cincinnati victory at Great American Ball Park.

“TJ’s got plenty of power. He’s not trying to hit a home run there,” said manager David Bell. “Those are going to come for him without trying, but that was a big hit in tonight’s game.”

Appearing in all 33 of the Reds' games this season, Friedl has modeled consistency, reaching base in 27 of those contests. And this week, that reliability has turned into explosiveness. Saturday’s four-RBI showing was his 10th multi-hit game of the year, which leads the team, with three of those coming in his last four starts.

“Not really much has changed,” said Friedl, keeping on the theme of stability. “I think it’s the same approach. Just getting my pitch to hit and being a little bit more aggressive early on.”

The outfielder leads the team in batting with a .324 average, good for fifth in the National League.

Friedl’s reliability is matched only by that of India, an increasingly dynamic duo at the top of the order. He and Friedl have appeared in every game, and each has recorded 36 hits.

“We’re definitely both high-energy guys,” said Friedl. “We’re very external with our emotions. We try and push each other, we try and help each other out any way we can, but we definitely feed off each other’s energy.”

Continuing his own four-game hitting streak, India reached base in every plate appearance, going 3-for-3 with a walk, two stolen bases and three runs, including two driven in by Friedl. India is also feeling the top-of-the-order chemistry.

“[Friedl] was 0-for-2 and getting a little pissed. So I got on, and I looked at him -- 'You’re going to do something. You’re going to hit a homer,'” said India when asked about the fifth inning. “He feeds off me getting on base, and he’ll do his job. It’s good to have the two of us at the top of the lineup and doing our thing.”

Friedl’s offense allowed the Reds to withstand another poor start from lefty Nick Lodolo, who had his shortest outing of the season at just 3 2/3 innings. His command suffered from the start, with a 30-pitch first inning only ended by an impressive throw from Nick Senzel at third base to put out the runner at first.

“I’m getting two strikes fine, but I just have to finish guys,” said Lodolo. “I have to stay on the attack with two and just finish guys.”

Lodolo gave up homers to lead off the second and fourth innings, his fourth straight start allowing multiple home runs. After Lodolo plunked his third batter of the day, Bell opted to cut the lefty's evening short at just 77 pitches. Lodolo led the Majors last season in hit batsmen and currently is tied for the most in that category this season (7, with Shohei Ohtani). In his last four starts, Lodolo has allowed 20 earned runs in 17 1/3 innings.

“The hit batters with the breaking ball are adding up a bit to make it harder on him,” said Bell. “But Nick Lodolo is tough to hit. He just has to keep getting ahead, keep trusting himself, and it’s going to come around.”

The Reds got great work from their bullpen the rest of the way. Derek Law continued his strong pitching with no hits over 2 1/3 innings, his third straight appearance without allowing a hit, and Ian Gibaut allowed just one hit in his first multi-inning outing of the year. Alexis Díaz earned his sixth save of the year to even the series.

“The bullpen -- that’s what it’s all about. They picked [Lodolo] up right there,” said Bell. “Nick’s going to go deep into games and pick our bullpen up a bunch, but today, Derek Law and Ian Gibaut were outstanding.”