CINCINNATI -- Following Saturday’s benches-clearing incident between the Reds and Cubs in the eighth inning, Cubs manager David Ross and shortstop Javier Baez made several pointed comments about Reds reliever Amir Garrett for his actions directed at Anthony Rizzo when he struck him out.

Bell chose not to respond when asked about his thoughts on what Ross and Baez said. 

“I don’t care what any player or manager on another team thinks about our team. I don’t care what they think of our team or any player on our team,” Bell said. “I don’t comment or care about how other teams go about it. We don't react. We don’t respond to how other teams go about it. That’s it. I really don’t care what another manager thinks about any player on our team. They don’t know anything about our players. They don’t know anything about our team.”

Following the Reds’ 13-12 win in 10 innings, Garrett spoke about what happened. 

“You know, I felt really good yesterday, throwing 97, slider up to 87. I wasn't feeling that good for the whole season,” said Garrett, who struck out two batters in the 10th. “I felt my normal self, so when I struck Rizzo out, I let him know. I let him know, 'I'm back.' I'm good. I'm here. That's basically all it was. I turn around, got the ball and heard Báez chirping, so I'm going to chirp back. It's fine. We weren't going to fight because that split second that we had that much time to get to each other, I can get to him if I wanted to and he can get to me. 

“We weren't going to fight. We're going to exchange words, blah, blah, blah. Benches clear, hold me back, whatever. That was fine. I had no intentions on fighting him, because obviously if I'd wanted to, I would have gone and got him. But, you know, it was a lot of pent up aggression from my performance. It is what it is, we move forward.”

India activated
The Reds activated second baseman Jonathan India from the injured list on Sunday after the rookie had a brief two-game absence for unspecified reasons.

Outfielder Mark Payton was optioned to the alternate training site to make room for India. Manager David Bell still had Nick Senzel making his second career start at second base in Sunday’s series finale vs. the Cubs.

“Jonathan hadn’t played for a few days. He was then sick,” Bell said. “He’s 100 percent healthy today, but it’d be a good day to get him back, get him some swings in the cage and run around a little bit. Have him off the bench, and then have him in that capacity today, I thought, made more sense.”

Last Sunday, India was hit in the head by a fastball from the Cardinals’ Jack Flaherty and came out as a precaution. Although he played the following day vs. the Dodgers, India did not play on Tuesday or Wednesday at Los Angeles.

Injury updates
Pitcher Michael Lorenzen, who is on the 60-day IL with a right shoulder strain, recently had his second platelet-rich plasma injection.

“He’s going to be in Arizona completing his rehab process,” Bell said. “He’s healing up. He’s still on track. He did respond well to the treatments he’s had, and we’re hoping to have him back in the next couple of months.”

Lorenzen has not begun a throwing program as of yet.

Outfielder Aristides Aquino, who is also on the 60-day IL with a fractured hamate bone on his left hand, is working to get his grip strength back after he had surgery to remove the hook of the hamate.

“Basically, at this point, it’s healing. It’s healing the incision and all that,” Bell said. “So it’s going to be some time still. Next step is just getting his grip strength back. I don’t know exactly where we are in the weeks of healing, but he’s got a few more weeks before he’ll be able to do any baseball activity.”

Hoffman ready to run
Reds starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman was needed to pinch-run for Tyler Stephenson in the ninth inning of Saturday’s 3-2 loss to the Cubs. As the potential tying run, Hoffman went from first base to third base on pinch-hitter Tucker Barnhart’s single but was left stranded.

Because the Reds have been short on the bench, Hoffman was ready, just in case, to hit or run.

“I tried to put myself in those situations later in the game even before the game starts,” Hoffman said on Sunday. “So I had my jersey on, I just had to throw my spikes on real quick. I actually did have an inning or two to prepare. I stretched out, got some sprints in down the hallway and I was ready to go.”

Hoffman, who will start on Tuesday for the Reds against the White Sox, was often used as a pinch-runner when he was with the Rockies.

“We only get to come to work every five days,” Hoffman said. “When you might be needed, it’s nice to have that little bit of adrenaline rush and it gets you going. Most of the time, when they tell you to be ready, nothing ever happens. [Saturday] was like the perfect storm.”