Reds stumble with loss to Cardinals as playoff hopes fade

ST. LOUIS -- Like every player in the Reds' clubhouse, Andrew Abbott knew that with time running out on the season, the stakes were higher regarding the playoff race for his start on Tuesday vs. the Cardinals.

That made it disappointing for Abbott that he couldn't provide a better result. The Reds' fading playoff hopes were dealt another blow on with a 3-0 loss to the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. It was the 13th time Cincinnati has been shut out this season -- including twice in the past five games.

“The stakes have been high the last two weeks, frankly," Abbott said. "It sucks when you don’t get the job done. … There’s still time. A lot of things have to go right. I’ve got to pitch better in my next two [starts]. Guys have got to step up. We’ve had our backs against the wall for two weeks so it’s just about the right time to answer the call.”

Because of a Mets win over the Padres, the Reds (75-76) now trail New York by three games for the final National League Wild Card spot with 11 games remaining. They also are a game and a half behind the Diamondbacks and tied with the Giants, who are playing against each other out west. Ironically, both Arizona and San Francisco were partial sellers at the Trade Deadline while the Reds were buyers.

While throwing 96 pitches (73 strikes), Abbott lasted only 4 2/3 innings while giving up three earned runs and eight hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. St. Louis was able to run up the left-hander's pitch count early by extending at-bats and getting foul balls.

Abbott was at 29 pitches through one inning and 48 pitches after two.

“I think they had a pretty good approach," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "The right-handers are looking away. They’re just trying to eliminate certain pitches.”

A majority of the Cardinals’ hits against Abbott -- five -- came with two strikes.

St. Louis took a 1-0 first-inning lead when Abbott opened his night with leadoff batter Brendan Donovan hitting a double to center field and Iván Herrera following with a single to right field. That set up Nolan Arenado's sacrifice fly to center field.

With two outs in the third inning, Alec Burleson hit a single to right field before Thomas Saggese pulled a 3-2 changeup to left field for a two-run home run. Saggese had fouled off two changeups earlier in the sequence.

“I probably would take one sequence back -- to Saggese," Abbott said. “Hindsight [is] 20-20; I would have loved to throw a different one.”

Back in the first inning, Saggese also dueled Abbott for nine pitches before hitting a single.

"Overall, I thought I was pretty good," Abbott said. "I was effective in the strike zone. I threw a lot of strikes. I didn’t walk anybody. They just earned it and they beat me with hits.”

Meanwhile, Reds hitters had no answer against Cardinals starter Michael McGreevy, who worked seven scoreless innings with three hits allowed. They came up empty in the second inning after a leadoff walk to Sal Stewart and a single by Will Benson when McGreevy induced a double-play ball from Tyler Stephenson. Gavin Lux was left stranded after a two-out double in the third inning.

After Elly De La Cruz's leadoff single in the fifth inning, Ke'Bryan Hayes grounded back to the pitcher, who started a double play as McGreevy retired eight of his final nine batters.

"We really didn’t mount much of an attack," Francona said.

Through a career-high 27 starts, Abbott is 9-7 with a 2.88 ERA. His 156 1/3 innings are approaching his professional career high of 163 1/3 innings combined for the Minors and big leagues during his 2023 rookie year.

Named a first-time All-Star, Abbott was 8-1 with a 2.07 ERA over 16 starts in the first half. That came after he missed the first couple of weeks on the injured list finishing his recovery from a 2024 left shoulder strain.

However, Abbott has been less effective down the stretch. Over his nine starts since July 31, he is 1-5 with a 4.42 ERA.

“I feel the best I ever have this late in the season," Abbott said. "I attribute that to the work the training staff and strength did with me in the offseason, going into Spring Training and Spring Training going slow. Just out of the gate, feeling good. Recovery is great. I’ve been able to bounce back."

Cincinnati, which has dropped three of its last four games, will need to bounce back even sooner. A win in Wednesday afternoon's rubber game would give them the series against the Cardinals.