Reds have a good time Bell’s extension with win: ‘We get pleasure from enjoying for him’

“It was a pretty cool moment,” left fielder Spencer Steer stated. “I don’t assume I’ve heard the clubhouse louder after a win than when it was introduced that he acquired the extension. I feel it’s only a testomony to how nice of a frontrunner he’s and the way a lot we get pleasure from enjoying for him.”

Closer Alexis Díaz was one of many a number of gamers to supply Bell private congratulations. 

“I’m simply so excited. He’s been an important supervisor for us,” Díaz said via translator Jorge Merlos. “Look on the job he’s been in a position to do that 12 months with this group. Everything he has been in a position to do with this group has been so superior to see.”

Many of the explanations that Bell acquired the extension had been on show all through Friday’s recreation. 

A robust response
First, Cincinnati as soon as once more confirmed resilience. The membership bounced again from a three-game collection loss to the National League Central-leading Brewers — together with being shut out within the finale whereas putting out 18 instances. 

“I feel like we’re pretty good at just like, next up, next game. We’re a really good team and that’s what good teams do,” stated beginning pitcher Brandon Williamson, who allowed two earned runs over 5 2/3 innings for the victory.

Offense comes by way of
The younger Reds lineup took management of the sport early to construct a 3-0 lead within the first. Elly De La Cruz led off with a success to the right-field nook and blazed across the bases for a triple earlier than scoring on TJ Friedl‘s groundout. Two batters later got here Jake Fraley‘s two-run homer off the right-field foul pole.

In the seventh inning with the lead trimmed to 3-2, there have been essential add-on runs. Steer hit a one-out solo homer to left area — his first since July 2 and fifteenth total. Dodgers reliever Yency Almonte would load the bases, then hit Friedl with a pitch and walked Matt McLain on 4 pitches for 2 runs and a 6-2 recreation. 

“It’s an important stretch for us,” Steer said. “Every game is obviously important when you’re trying to win a division. It’s a really good team and a really good test for us, I think. It’s good also for our offense to see some runs and touch home plate.”

Big defensive performs
Williamson was efficient however had baserunners on in every of his innings, together with 4 walks. He was in a position to induce three double performs to attenuate injury.

In the fourth inning, after Miguel Rojas squeaked an RBI single into proper area, Fraley charged towards the infield earlier than throwing to India at second base to create a rundown. As Chris Taylor tried to interrupt for dwelling, India threw the ball to 3rd base earlier than Taylor was tagged out on the plate. 

“Honestly, it made the game for me,” Williamson stated of the defensive performs. “Not only did it save maybe pitches for me, it saved a couple of runs, possibly. Obviously, the game came down to one run, so it’s the difference.”

A four-out save for Díaz
Los Angeles scored three runs within the backside of the seventh in opposition to Lucas Sims and Ian Gibaut earlier than Alex Young ended the rally. Young picked up two outs within the eighth and left with a runner on first base. That’s when Bell determined to summon his nearer, Díaz, from the bullpen for a four-out save in opposition to the hardest portion of the Dodgers’ lineup.

“It’s really tough to do,” Bell stated. “You don’t want to have to do it. He was rested. He was the guy to get it done.”

Díaz threw one fastball and 6 sliders earlier than getting first batter Mookie Betts to floor out to 3rd base to finish the eighth. In the ninth, Díaz retired the aspect of Freddie Freeman, Will Smith and J.D. Martinez to ensure that his MLB-best thirty first save.

“It was a very important win today,” Díaz said. “For myself, I just had to get ready earlier than I normally do, just because you never know when you’re going to get in. But we were able to execute all of our pitches and dominate the strike zone as well and be able to throw it in the strike zone and get that victory.”