CINCINNATI — The Reds’ playoff possibilities took an enormous hit of their absence because the membership struggled whereas enduring a myriad of accidents and COVID-19 instances. But crew leaders Joey Votto and Jonathan India returned from stints on the injured listing Sunday with Cincinnati’s season at a vital tipping level.
And it occurred to be Votto’s fortieth birthday as properly.
“I’m glad to be back playing, whether it’s my birthday or not. I’ve missed playing. I’ve missed being a part of the team, helping the team ideally move towards a playoff berth,” Votto said before the game. “To have the opportunity to compete after this long means a lot to me. I’m excited about it.”
India’s leadoff residence run within the backside of the third inning was the primary run scored within the recreation, and Votto’s personal leadoff homer within the eighth offered the punctuation. A 3-game shedding streak ended throughout a 7-1 Reds victory over the Cardinals at Great American Ball Park.
“We’re at a must-win stage now,” Votto said after the game. “Seventeen games remaining and several good teams in front of us. All of these games feel must win-ish, and we take them all seriously.”
A 15-22 report since Aug. 1 has put the Reds on this place. The crew, which can be lacking infielder Matt McLain (indirect pressure), has sagged offensively in current weeks.
India hadn’t been within the lineup since July 28 due to plantar fasciitis in his left foot, and Votto went on the IL Aug. 24 due to discomfort in his surgically repaired left shoulder.
“It’s enormous,” said outfielder TJ Friedl, who hit a two-out solo homer in the seventh inning. “There’s actually no phrases to explain what they imply to us and our crew, simply to have them again, see their names within the lineup and to comprehend it’s simply going to make our lineup higher.”
On a sinker from Miles Mikolas within the third inning, India launched the ball to heart subject for his fifteenth homer of the season.
India wasn’t as a consequence of return till Tuesday however informed the membership he was able to return Sunday after two video games on a rehab project with Triple-A Louisville.
“Felt good today,” India mentioned. “Put a good swing on the ball. Was seeing the ball really well, working counts. Definitely felt good to be back out there with the guys and get a W.”
“I have to come back and perform well. We all do. Jon did it right out of the gate, and I was overwhelmed with jealousy hoping it would have happened in my first at-bat also. I’m kidding, obviously,” Votto said. “We’re deep, and everybody is wanting to be on the field and everybody is wanting to compete. Hopefully that will be our strength going through the end of the season into hopefully some postseason ball.”
Two batters after India went yard, Will Benson added his personal solo homer to heart subject for a 2-0 Cincinnati lead. The Reds broke the sport open with three runs within the sixth inning.
Votto hit his 14th homer of the season along with his drive to right-center subject within the eighth inning. He has 4 profession homers on his birthday.
“It felt back to normal. It felt like our team was back together, at least closer anyway. Those two guys have a lot to do with it,” Reds manager David Bell said. “It felt like we got our family back together today, and they both played well and got their first game out of the way. It’s exciting. We’re playing for something right now.”
Reds pitchers mixed to work a one-hitter. In his return from the COVID IL, starter Hunter Greene pitched six innings and allowed one unearned run, one hit and 4 walks with 9 strikeouts. Greene labored by means of his first 4 innings however settled and threw 22 pitches over his last two innings. He retired his final seven batters and his final 9 of 10.
The Reds, who’ve a shedding report at residence this season, start a six-game street journey vs. the Tigers and Mets on Tuesday. Cincinnati has a 38-32 report on the street this season.
“We’re definitely going to start pushing,” India mentioned. “It hasn’t been a great month for the Reds, past two months — I guess. But we need to start getting it going now. We’ve got to give it all we’ve got. You’ve got to play with heart, got to play with passion. I’m going to give it all I’ve got, I know that.”
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