The box score showed the tightrope Graham Ashcraft walked during his start against the National League East-leading New York Mets.
Ashcraft surrendered a career-high 10 hits on Wednesday and struck out only one batter. He tossed 105 pitches, just the second time he’s crossed the 100-pitch barrier this season.
There were no simple 1-2-3 innings. Only one of his six innings required fewer than 17 pitches. He didn’t throw many first-pitch strikes. It felt like Ashcraft’s back was against the wall and, somehow, he kept finding ways to survive. Ashcraft allowed two runs in the Reds’ 8-3 loss in 10 innings at Great American Ball Park, and he stranded eight runners.