CINCINNATI -- The injury that Reds reliever Brad Brach returned from on Sunday was a right shoulder impingement. But in layman’s terms, Brach hit a wall after being used so often to help hold up what was a wobbly bullpen.

“Honestly, there was something going on, but it was more fatigue than anything else,” Brach said. “I kind of hit a wall and couldn’t really get myself over that hump. Hopefully, we’ve got on the right side of things now and I’m good to go. I’m hoping to pitch more like I did in that six-week stretch than I did toward the last three or four.”

Brach was activated from the 10-day injured list and infielder Alejo Lopez was optioned to Triple-A Louisville. Cincinnati is back to a nine-man bullpen as a result.

In 13 appearances from June 8-July 4, Brach had a 0.64 ERA with one earned run over 14 innings. In his final five appearances before going on the IL on Aug. 8, he had a 19.64 ERA with eight earned runs, seven hits and five walks over 3 2/3 innings.

The shortened 2020 season may have played a small part in Brach's injury and fatigue.

“I didn’t even realize I threw only 12 [1/3] innings last year [for the Mets],” Brach said. “Regardless of how many years you’ve done this, when you have a year like that, it’s always a little tougher. I really hadn’t pitched in a big role like that in probably three years, so I think it was just a combination of a lot of things. I got in my own head. Like I said, we got over that physical hump. Now I can just finish the season strong and help us win some games.”

Before his activation, Brach did a two-appearance rehab assignment with Louisville and threw two scoreless innings with one hit and three strikeouts.

Fresh Lorenzen pumps strikes
Working in a game for the first time since Aug. 26 during Saturday’s 7-4 win over the Tigers, reliever Michael Lorenzen worked a season-high two scoreless innings with one hit and two strikeouts.

Lorenzen, who pitched the seventh and eighth innings, featured his cutter and a sharp slider. Of the 21 pitches thrown, 17 were strikes. Because the Reds were often behind in games over the past week, there weren’t many big situations to use the right-hander.

“Crazy that we went a whole week without having a situation he typically pitches in,” Reds manager David Bell said on Sunday. “There were days he was up in the bullpen and didn’t get in. Actually, seven days isn’t ideal. But he was rested, he did a good job of staying ready so he was sharp when he came in last night. He’s pretty amazing with his availability and how he takes care of himself. His ability to bounce back, I don’t even recall over the last three years a day he said he wasn’t available. I’m sure it happened, but usually, that’s a decision we have to make.

“He really takes great care of himself and is an amazing athlete. It was great to get him in there last night and two big innings. You don’t see that a lot from anyone’s bullpen, getting two innings late in the game like that.”