It sounds silly, but what was once the Cincinnati Reds‘ biggest weakness this season has now become the team’s biggest strength. After last night’s starter, Vladimir Gutierrez surrendered five runs on seven hits over 3.1 innings of work, the bullpen put up 5.2 innings of shutout baseball.
Manager David Bell last night’s game over the bullpen with one out in the fourth inning with his team trailing the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4. The relief corps rewarded Bell with 5.2 innings of sparkling pitching, allowing just one hit and registering zero free passes.
Luis Cessa, one of Cincinnati’s trade deadline acquisitions, came on for Gutierrez in the fourth inning and would get the win after sitting the Pirates down in order in the fifth inning.