The Cincinnati Reds will look for their second series sweep of the season when they play the Minnesota Twins on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis.
Cincinnati’s scheduled starting pitcher, Brady Singer (1-1, 5.60 ERA), earned his first win of the season on Tuesday. The right-hander scattered six hits, gave up one run and struck out one in a 2-1 home victory over the San Francisco Giants.
Though Singer was struck with a comebacker to his right foot in the sixth inning, he finished the frame. X-rays came back negative.
“I’m glad the X-rays came back good,” Singer said. “It caught me square in the foot. But I’m good for the next (start).”
Both of the Reds’ wins over the Twins in this three-game series have been by one run — 2-1 in the opener on Friday and 5-4 after a comeback on Saturday.
Cincinnati swept three games at the Texas Rangers from April 3-5.
Singer said after his last start that the Reds’ bullpen was a difference maker. Cincinnati relievers have not allowed a run in a combined eight innings while posting 11 strikeouts against the Twins.
“They are incredible,” Singer said. “They’ve been huge for us all year long and are going to carry us the rest of the way, too. It’s great to see what they are doing.”
Singer has struggled over 13 career starts against the Twins. He’s 3-7 with a 5.63 ERA and 73 strikeouts.
Bailey Ober (2-0, 5.49 ERA) is set to take the mound for the Twins on Sunday. The right-hander picked up the win in his last start on Monday, when he allowed seven hits, four runs and one walk with seven strikeouts in six innings in a 13-6 decision over the visiting Boston Red Sox.
In four career starts against the Reds, Ober is 0-2 with a 6.23 ERA, 16 strikeouts and seven walks over 21 2/3 innings.
The Twins are 3-0 when Ober pitches at home this season.
After the Minnesota offense sputtered on Friday, the Twins shook up their lineup. Josh Bell moved into the No. 3 hole and Luke Keaschall slid down to the five spot. The move paid immediate dividends as Minnesota took a 2-0 first-inning lead.
Bell and Keaschall each collected two hits in the game, and Austin Martin scored two runs and secured a catch as he ran into the right-field wall. Martin is the right-handed-hitting complement in a right-field platoon with left-handed-hitting Trevor Larnach, who started in left on Saturday.
Martin has a .295 batting average, one home run and four RBIs this season while mostly hitting second when he is in the Twins’ lineup.
“He’s having really consistent at-bats,” manager Derek Shelton said. “It’s the rare opportunity for a guy in a platoon that we are seeing this many left-handers.
“Since spring training, he’s had a high quantity of at-bats and has been very impressive,” Shelton continued. “There’s no urgency in his at-bats, and I mean that in a really good way. He’s taking what’s coming to him, whether it’s taking a walk or being aggressive early in counts.”
Shelton said the team hopes to get Royce Lewis back from the 10-day injured list soon. The Twins’ third baseman has been sidelined by a left knee strain and started his rehab assignment on Saturday with Triple-A St. Paul.
“We thought all along that this (injury) was right at the minimum amount of time or close to it,” Shelton said. “His progression has gone extremely well. He’s done all on-field activities, hit on the field and took ground balls with the group. Now it’s on to the next step.”
–Field Level Media
