Rookie Blake Dunn will try to keep giving the Reds a reason to show up to the ballpark when Cincinnati opens a three-game series with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night.
The Reds (74-80) were officially eliminated from postseason contention on Wednesday after falling 7-1 to the Atlanta Braves. Things then took a turn for the worse a day later, as Cincinnati served up six homers while getting blasted 15-3 by Atlanta.
But Dunn was one of the few bright spots for the Reds in the latter setback, clubbing his first career big-league home run as part of a 2-for-3 performance. He walked once, scored three times and stole two bases.
Cincinnati manager David Bell is hoping Dunn can help give the Reds a morale boost down the stretch.
“He was doing well (in the minors at Triple-A Louisville) before he came back to us,” Bell said. “There hadn’t been a lot of playing time. He (and) the other guys that aren’t playing are doing a great job of staying ready. … We like Blake Dunn a lot, so it’s nice to get him into the action.”
Right-hander Nick Martinez (9-6, 3.37 ERA) will be getting some action on Friday, as he is set to make his 41st appearance (15th start) of the season for the Reds.
Martinez, 34, has earned a win in each of his past three starts, most recently holding the Minnesota Twins to one run on three hits in six innings last Saturday.
In five career appearances (one start) against Pittsburgh, Martinez is 0-1 with an 11.12 ERA.
The Pirates (72-81) plan to counter with righty Mitch Keller (11-10, 3.87), who has dropped three straight decisions.
Last time out, on Saturday, Keller was tagged for four runs (three earned) and four hits in six innings to take a loss against the Kansas City Royals. Keller, 28, is 3-4 with a 5.40 ERA in 16 career starts against Cincinnati.
Much like the Reds, Pittsburgh is trying to carry some good mojo into the offseason. The Pirates’ 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday should help do the trick, as the Pirates tied the game at 2-2 in the seventh before Nick Gonzales hit a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth.
Gonzales went 5-for-12 (.417) with two doubles, one triple, two runs and an RBI in the four-game set with St. Louis. He played in three of those games.
“It’s good to finish strong,” Gonzales said. “I just want to hit on all cylinders. Throughout the year, you’re going to have ups and downs. I’m trying to minimize as much as I can. Try to stay locked in as much as I can.”
Infielder Jared Triolo also has been on a roll for Pittsburgh, logging hits in eight of his past 10 games. He has gone 11-for-34 (.324) with one homer, one RBI and five runs during that span.
Friday marks the 11th meeting of the year between the teams; with a 7-3 edge, the Pirates already have taken the season series from Cincinnati.
