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Cincinnati Reds

Press Clippings

July 1, 2016

THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1957-After Cincinnati fans stuff the ballot box and vote eight starters onto the All-Star team, the National League intervenes and

pulls three Reds players from the starting lineup. Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Stan Musial replace George Crowe, Wally Post and

Gus Bell as starters.

MLB.COM Hamilton passes concussion protocol

Reds center fielder in lineup day after ball hit him in the face

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | 2:01 AM ET

WASHINGTON -- Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton received clearance to be in the starting lineup for Thursday's 13-4 loss in the

series opener vs. the Nationals after passing concussion protocol testing.

Hamilton was on the field mid-afternoon to perform some required drills and also underwent testing in the Reds' clubhouse. Major

League Baseball had to review his case and approve him to play under the concussion protocol, even though he was not diagnosed

with a concussion.

"Considering he's coming off the seven-day concussion DL recently, it's not a formality," Reds manager Bryan Price said before the

approval. "It's something he has to go through, through MLB, to verify there hasn't been a re-injury, concussion issue. There are

protocols he has to go through."

Hamilton suffered a facial contusion when he was struck by an Anthony Rizzo fly ball on the left cheek in the first inning of a 9-2

loss to the Cubs on Wednesday. After the ball grazed left fielder Adam Duvall's glove as he and Hamilton converged, it hit the

center fielder's face and ricocheted to the wall for a three-run inside-the-park home run.

After he banged his head sliding into third base while attempting to steal on June 8 vs. the Cardinals, Hamilton was on the 7-day

concussion disabled list from June 10-16.

Worth noting

• Reds pitcher Alfredo Simon, on the disabled list since June 22 because of a strained right trapezius muscle near his shoulder, has

yet to resume throwing.

"He's got a massive spasm in his right trapezius," Price said. "It's really limiting any type of throwing mobility whatsoever. He's had

relief, but not total relief to the point where he's been greenlighted to go out and resume activity."

• Reliever Caleb Cotham, who went on the DL with right shoulder inflammation May 31, began a rehab assignment with Double-A

Pensacola on Thursday. Cotham is expected to make at least five appearances with that club.

• Third baseman Nick Senzel, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 Draft, was promoted to Class A Dayton on Thursday. Senzel batted

.152 with four RBIs in 10 games with Rookie-level Billings.

Reds routed by Nats as Finnegan struggles

By Jamal Collier and Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 1:43 AM ET

WASHINGTON -- Danny Espinosa launched a pair of home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in seven to help pace an

offensive outburst for the Nationals in a 13-4 victory against the Reds on Thursday night at Nationals Park. The 13 runs for

Washington matched a season high and extended the club's winning streak to five games. Meanwhile, Cincinnati dropped its fourth

game in a row and eighth in its last nine.

The Nats already led 4-1 in the third inning when Espinosa hammered his second career grand slam to left-center off Reds left-

hander Brandon Finnegan. Espinosa's second homer of the night came in the fourth off right-hander Josh Smith, a three-run blast

from the left side of the plate. It was Espinosa's fourth career multihomer game, and he became the first player in franchise history

since Geoff Blum in 2001 with homers from both sides of the plate, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"I wasn't going up there trying to do that or trying to create," Espinosa said. "I was just trying to have good at-bats, and it feels

awesome to help the team out and give us a good win right there."

Finnegan was finished after the grand slam to end the worst start of his young career. He allowed a career-high eight runs on five

hits with five walks in 2 1/3 innings, the shortest start of his career.

"That combination of walks and homers, they don't work terribly well together as you know," Reds manager Bryan Price said.

The Nationals had lost each of left-hander Gio Gonzalez's last seven starts, but he bounced back a bit with his outing. He struck out

nine batters in six innings, but allowed four runs, including a three-run sixth by the Reds highlighted by a solo homer from Joey

Votto.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED

Power punch for Espinosa: Espinosa's career night included a homer from both sides of the plate, seven RBIs (the most by any

Nationals player in a single game since Josh Willingham drove in eight in 2009) and a pair of curtain calls from the fans at

Nationals Park.

"It means a lot," Espinosa said about the curtain call. "The fans are in it. They're enjoying it. As a player you enjoy the fact that the

fans are behind you."

Espinosa was the focus of criticism at the start of this month, with some wondering why he was the starting shortstop while Trea

Turner, the team's top hitting prospect, stayed in the Minors. But Espinosa has done his best to quell any of that with a stellar month

of June, batting .309/.418/.704 with nine homers, 21 RBIs and a 1.122 OPS.

Rally that fizzled: The Reds had Gonzalez on the defensive to open the game with the bases loaded and no outs three batters into the

first inning on Zack Cozart's walk, Votto's double and Brandon Phillips being hit by a pitch. Jay Bruce's double-play ball yielded the

lone run from the rally before Adam Duvall flied out.

"That was certainly an opportunity to create a little bit more separation early in the game. It didn't happen," Price said.

On the right track: While Espinosa will likely be disappointed to see the calendar turn from June, Gonzalez will be happy to move

on from a down month. He entered Thursday with a 7.16 ERA in five June starts, but showed signs of progress in this one.

Gonzalez worked his way out of a jam in the first inning to only allow one run before settling into a groove that included a stretch of

seven strikeouts in nine batters. He scuffled a bit to close out the outing by allowing three runs in the sixth, but overall Gonzalez

took it as a positive.

"It's a step to the right direction," Gonzalez said. "Especially with my last start only going three innings, [and] now going six. It's

still pushing, you're still grinding."

Reds show life in sixth: The Reds put three balls in play and struck out nine times from the second through fifth innings. But a

three-run sixth vs. Gonzalez was sparked by Votto's leadoff homer to left field on the first pitch. It gave Votto 14 homers, which is

tied for third on the club. He also has hit three of Cincinnati's last five homers. That capped an improved June, with Votto batting

.319 (29-for-91) with five homers and 10 RBIs.

QUOTABLE

"Not much to say about it -- just definitely my worst outing of the year, of my life, honestly. I just have to get ready for my next

start." – Finnegan

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS

The Reds have allowed 13 or more runs eight times this season and twice in one week. It also happened last Friday vs. the Padres.

WHAT'S NEXT

Reds: Coming off two nice starts, including eight scoreless innings his last time out, Anthony DeSclafani will take the ball when the

series continues at 6:05 p.m. ET on Friday. DeSclafani is 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA in five career games (two starts) vs. Washington.

Nationals: The Nats will go for their sixth straight win as right-hander Tanner Roark takes the mound Friday night. Roark had his

shortest outing of the season against the Reds in Cincinnati earlier this month, when he allowed five runs on seven hits in three

innings.

Bruce open to waiving no-trade clause

Reds right fielder wants to play for contender if dealt

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | June 30th, 2016

WASHINGTON -- Just over a month away from the Aug. 1 non-waiver Trade Deadline, right fielder Jay Bruce and the Reds are in

a similar situation to last year. Bruce is central to trade rumors, the club will likely field offers and he will watch and wait to see if

something gets done.

Bruce said on Thursday he is open to any deal, including to any of the eight clubs that are listed in his contract's limited no-trade

clause. That list includes the Yankees, Red Sox, A's, Rays, Marlins, Twins, Indians and D-backs.

"I would consider waiving the no-trade clause for all types of reasons," Bruce told MLB.com. "There's no blanket reason I wouldn't.

I'm open to all possibilities, but it would be situation to situation.

"If I am moved, which has seemed likely for the last year and a half, I'd like to go where the team is mostly likely to win. Teams

that want me are likely seeking somebody to help them win."

Of the clubs on the no-trade list, Cleveland seems to be most in need of a left-handed corner outfielder. Michael Brantley has been

injured much of 2016 and recently resumed hitting drills. The rest of the Indians' outfield features Lonnie Chisenhall, Jose Ramirez,

Tyler Naquin and Rajai Davis. The Indians, who lead the American League Central, also fit Bruce's need to play for a contender.

Bruce's agent, Matt Sosnick, noted that the Reds have not presented him or his client with any potential deals for approval.

Bruce, 29, is having a resurgent season and entered Thursday batting .279/.325/.568 with 17 home runs, 18 doubles, six triples and

59 RBIs -- numbers that have him at or near the league lead at his position.

Making $12.5 million in 2016, Bruce has a $13 million club option for '17 with a $1 million buyout. To get a player to waive a

limited or full no-trade provision, the dealing clubs often provide some incentives.

"We're not setting in stone any financial qualifiers," Sosnick said. "If the deal is good for Jay and good for the Reds, he would

consider anything -- including waiving the no-trade. … There is no team that he would unequivocally not go to."

The Reds nearly dealt Bruce to the Blue Jays at the start of Spring Training, but the deal was reportedly called off because of a

medical red flag with one of the Minor Leaguers that was part of the return. Toronto was originally part of Bruce's no-trade list but

had been swapped out for Cleveland last fall. According to Sosnick, however, Bruce had no negative feelings toward the Indians.

Strong June for Finnegan marred by final start

Reds righty allows 8 runs over 2 1/3 innings against Nationals

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | 1:17 AM ET

WASHINGTON -- Brandon Finnegan first took his lumps and then took some blame. The young Reds starting pitcher didn't give

much credit, however, to the Nationals, even after they dealt him and his club a 13-4 defeat on Thursday.

"You know, I gave them their runs, they didn't earn them," Finnegan said. "That's how the night went."

In the shortest start of his brief big league career, Finnegan lasted 2 1/3 innings and allowed a career-high eight earned runs with

five hits. He also equaled his career high with five walks, something he has done three times this season.

Now 3-7 with a 4.48 ERA in 17 starts this season, the 23-year-old Finnegan saw his ERA jump from 3.83 in the outing.

"Brandon, I have to say, has been probably our best competitor in the starting rotation. It just wasn't his day," Reds manager Bryan

Price said.

Finnegan's night started ominously with a four-pitch walk to Michael Taylor in the first. The second batter, Jayson Werth, just

missed a two-run homer with a ball that went over a leaping Adam Duvall's glove. It took Finnegan 37 pitches to get through the

inning. He faced eight batters, allowed four runs, three hits, two walks and Ryan Zimmerman's three-run homer to straightaway

center field, slugged on a fastball over the plate.

Two walks to open the third inning led to a rare mound visit from Price where the pitcher wasn't lifted. Usually it's pitching coach

Mark Riggins who makes the first visit to help fix issues.

"Every manager I have ever worked for as a pitching coach has made similar trips ... because they want to gauge the temperature of

the starter and want to say something that's a little more pointed and direct," Price said. "I just wanted to remind him what he needed

to do better. Probably no different than anything Mark had said all day, but it just feels sometimes it adds more emphasis if I make

that visit."

Three batters later, a one-out grand slam by Danny Espinosa on a rising 92-mph fastball expedited Finnegan's exit.

"You all saw the game. Not much to say about it -- just definitely my worst outing of the year, of my life, honestly," Finnegan said.

"I just have to get ready for my next start."

In his previous five starts this month, Finnegan had a 3.19 ERA -- with four of the outings going at least six innings. However,

Cincinnati has lost each of his last three starts and four of the last five.

Finnegan acknowledged that he lacked fastball command and couldn't induce swings with his slider.

"The issue, more than anything, was he didn't really have one pitch he could go to. Sometimes as a starter, you just have to milk a

pitch," Price said. "It just wasn't there and it made for a real tough situation and subsequently a short start."

All-Star Ballot end sets up Tuesday intrigue

Rosters announced at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday on ESPN; Final Vote next

By Mark Newman / MLB.com | 12:00 AM ET

The people have spoken and the countdown is on.

After 68 consecutive days of relentless fan voting to determine starting position players for the 87th All-Star Game on July 12 at

Petco Park in San Diego, the largest All-Star balloting program in sports closed at 11:59 p.m. ET on Thursday.

Now it is time to kick back, partake in Fourth of July fireworks and fun, and finally see the people's choices. Starting position

players will be unveiled in the Esurance All-Star Selection Show at 7 p.m. ET Tuesday on ESPN, prior to that night's Pirates-

Cardinals broadcast.

There are plenty of questions to be answered as we wait to see how those 35 submissions per user account worked out after the

launch of the Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot.

Will Buster Posey of the Giants hold off Yadier Molina of the Cardinals at National League catcher? Or did Washington's Wilson

Ramos keep charging right to the top?

From Monday to Wednesday, Posey overtook Molina atop the standings by 107,000 votes, receiving 51.5 percent more votes during

that time. Those two have combined to win each of the last four and six of the last seven fan elections as the NL's starting catcher at

the Midsummer Classic.

Ramos, meanwhile, became a big factor in the final two weeks and was within striking distance in the final days. He entered

Thursday third on the Nationals with 43 RBIs, and was tearing it up in June with a .360 average, six homers and 18 RBIs.

Will the entire Cubs infield start at Petco Park -- or could first baseman Anthony Rizzo go it alone?

"It's overwhelming to see the fan support, just because I'm so focused on playing," Rizzo, the NL's top vote-getter in each of the

voting updates, said at Citi Field on Thursday during the final day of balloting. "It's 100 percent generated by fans, and it's really

cool to see them supporting me, and voting for me the way they've voted so far."

His teammates' bids were less certain. In the final Ballot update on Wednesday, three of them saw their leads shrink. Ben Zobrist's

lead over Washington's Daniel Murphy at second base was down to 185,000 with 30 hours left to vote. On the left side of the

infield, third baseman Kris Bryant and shortstop Addison Russell were each fighting off a rallying Rockie -- Nolan Arenado for the

former and Trevor Story for the latter. Both leads were about 290,000 votes.

Story is not the only NL West rookie shortstop who was making noise behind Russell. Corey Seager of the Dodgers was pouring it

on in the last week, and in the voting update announced on Monday, he was significantly outgaining both Russell and Story. Was it

too little, too late? Entering Thursday, Seager's WAR was 3.5 compared to Story's 1.7, and those two were both at 886 in OPS.

Will Lorenzo Cain of the Royals, Mark Trumbo of the Orioles or Jose Bautista of the Blue Jays crack the AL starting outfield?

It was still a trio, in order, of Mike Trout of the Angels and Red Sox outfielders Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts as of late

Wednesday. Did Cain make up that roughly 50,000-vote deficit behind Betts despite being on the 15-day disabled list?

Did Royals catcher Salvador Perez hold off David Ortiz of the Red Sox in the race for top overall vote-getter?

Two of the last three World Series MVPs were consistently ranked first and second for most overall votes. For Big Papi, it seems

certainly to be his 10th All-Star selection during this final season, and it remains to be seen whether he can do what he did back in

2005 and take the most votes.

"Going to the All-Star Game means a lot to us," Ortiz said. "When the fans pick you, it's because they want to see you play."

Trout was leading comfortably in the AL outfield, and that would mean he will be in position to at least make a run at an

unprecedented third straight All-Star MVP honor.

"I take pride in my game and to be an All-Star is a humbling feeling," Trout said at last year's game. "It's an honor and it's fun. It's

for the fans. . . . I go out there to play my hardest and try to put on a show. It goes by so quick. Just enjoy every minute of it, no

pressure, go out there playing my game and try to help the team win."

All-Star balloting is a process that almost always results in at least one surprising late-surge selection. In the first year that online

balloting was combined with paper balloting, Cal Ripken Jr. moved into starting position in the final week of voting -- and then won

All-Star MVP in his swan song at Seattle. Last year was the first year that paper balloting was eliminated, and late surges into the

starting lineup were made by Miguel Cabrera, Josh Donaldson and Nelson Cruz.

Posey would join them if he holds off Molina. Others still could happen.

The AL team will have nine elected starters via the Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot, while the NL roster will have eight fan-

elected starters. Pitchers and reserves for both squads -- totaling 25 for the NL and 24 for the AL -- will be determined through a

combination of "Player Ballot" choices and selections made by the two All-Star managers, Ned Yost from the Royals and Terry

Collins from the Mets.

The one-hour Esurance All-Star Selection Show will unveil 33 players for each roster, and then it will end by announcing the five

nominees for each league in the 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote to decide the 34th man for each league. Now in its

15th season with nearly 600 million votes cast, the Final Vote will take place exclusively at MLB.com, club sites and mobile

devices and will conclude at 4 p.m. ET on Friday, July 8.

Last year's Final Vote winners were Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez and Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas.

In finalizing the rosters, managers will also have plans in place to replace any starting pitchers who elect not to participate in the

All-Star Game after pitching on Sunday, July 10. Any pitcher replaced on the active All-Star roster will be recognized as an All-Star

and invited to San Diego with full All-Star honors.

On Tuesday, July 12, watch the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard live on FOX, as well as MLB.TV Premium (for

authenticated subscribers), and during the game, visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player

Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2016 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote.

The 87th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners

in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national

radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week

coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.

Strong since return, DeSclafani takes on Nats

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | June 30th, 2016

Two right-handed starting pitchers trending upward of late will meet when the Nationals and Reds continue their series Friday

evening. Tanner Roark will start for Washington against Cincinnati's Anthony DeSclafani.

In his last four starts, Roark owns a 2.30 ERA and has averaged nearly seven innings per start. His shortest outing of the year came

against the Reds in Cincinnati on June 5, when he was pulled after three innings as the Reds scored five runs on seven hits.

Washington still emerged with a 10-9 victory.

DeSclafani pitched eight scoreless innings in his last start on Sunday vs. the Padres. He gave up five hits, no walks, one hit batsman

and struck out five. It was the third time this season a Reds starter pitched at least seven innings in back-to-back starts. The 26-year-

old has a 1.52 ERA in four starts since returning from a strained left oblique that he injured in March.

Things to know about this game

• Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper and center fielder Ben Revere each were given a day off from the lineup on Thursday. Both

are expected to play on Friday.

• Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton, who was hit on the left side of his face by a fly ball on Wednesday, took concussion protocol

tests on and off the field Thursday and was cleared just before the series opener. Hamilton never suffered a concussion and was

diagnosed with a facial contusion, but he had sustained a head injury earlier in the month.

• Nationals closer Jonathan Papelbon is scheduled to continue his rehab assignment Friday at Double-A Harrisburg.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER BAR: Now for Bryan Price's most important task

Zach Buchanan, zbuchanan@enquirer.com 7:39 a.m. EDT July 1, 2016

Struggle for prospects in their first extended taste of the majors is a given. No one should freak out that Brandon Finnegan and Cody

Reed have hit rough patches. It was bound to happen.

But now that it has happened, this is where manager Bryan Price can have the biggest possible impact on this team's future. The

Cincinnati Reds have said since the beginning that progress in their young pitchers will be a big factor when evaluating Price, who

is on the last year of his deal. Now that the team's injury woes are largely over, he has some material to work with.

Reed has a 9.00 ERA in three starts. Finnegan's mark rose from 3.83 to 4.48 after getting blitzed by the Washington Nationals on

Thursday. You've also got Michael Lorenzen in the bullpen, still needing to prove he can get big-league hitters out on a regular

basis. John Lamb has pitched well lately, but has had his bumps in the road too.

It's easy to coach pitchers when they're doing well, but much harder to get them back on track once they've failed. If all those

players -- and Robert Stephenson, whenever he comes up for good -- are showcasing more consistency by the season's end, then

Price has arguably done his most important job. (That's not to say it means he'll automatically be brought back for 2017, though.)

This team has had its pitching successes and failures, and not all of it can be put on Price, good or bad. If you hold the man directly

responsible for J.J. Hoover's terrible year, you have to hold him responsible for Josh Smith's sudden dominance out of the pen. But

neither of those pitchers are as important to the team's future as the aforementioned starters (plus Lorenzen), and making sure they

show progress is priority number one for Price.

Minor-league roundup

Triple-A: Gwinnett 3, Louisville 0. The Bats got no-hit by 30-year-old Atlanta Braves minor-leaguer Rob Wooten and two relievers.

A single Gwinnett error prevented it from being a perfect game. RHP Jon Moscot gave up three runs over six innings.

Double-A: Chattanooga 7, Pensacola 3. RHP Rookie Davis gave up two runs in six innings, but RHP Caleb Cotham coughed up

three -- one unearned -- while failing to record an out in his first rehab outing. CF Jeff Gelalich doubled and tripled.

High-A: The Tortugas were rained out Thursday.

Low-A: Dayton 4, Fort Wayne 2. RHP Jose Lopez gave up just one run on two hits over seven innings. RF Reydel Medina and 2B

Shed Long each went 2 for 4 with a home run, Medina's a three-run blast in the eighth to give the Dragons the lead.

Rookie: Great Falls 5, Billings 1. RHP Moises Nova gave up five runs in three innings. LF Taylor Trammell doubled.

Chicago writer: Reds hitting Kris Bryant 'bad, stupid and gutless'

Dave Clark, dclark@cincinnati.com 9:38 p.m. EDT June 30, 2016

Hitting the Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant in the eighth inning of Cincinnati's 9-2 loss Wednesday shows the Reds "believe in bad,

stupid and gutless baseball," according to Chicago Tribune's Steve Rosenbloom.

Fighting words from Rosenbloom, who ruled out the possibility that a pitch got away from Reds reliever Jumbo Diaz:

“I’m not sure if Reds manager Bryan Price ordered the hit on Cubs slugger Kris Bryant or if reliever Jumbo Diaz went rogue, but

they’re serving big glasses of stupid in Cincinnati these days.

Diaz hit Bryant with a fastball late in a blowout Wednesday because the Reds stink at baseball, and that was not a pitch that just got

away. That pitch was borne of intent.

Maybe it was just that the dogbreath Reds were on the verge of being swept at home at a time when their home was overrun with

Cubs fans.

Or maybe it was Bryant’s wreaking the kind of damage you’re supposed to wreak on a horrible pitching staff, bombing three

homers and two doubles Monday and then driving home the winner in the 15th inning Tuesday.

Or maybe it was that the Cubs continued to try to score in Wednesday afternoon’s game. Or maybe it was a combination of all that

and more.

Whatever, throwing at opponents because you stink at playing baseball is about as dangerous and idiotic as it gets. Firing a

weapon at 97 miles an hour at a defenseless player is spineless. I don’t care how old-school some players want to talk, it’s an

admission that you’re a loser and have no ability to do what really matters, which is playing better baseball.”

Rosenbloom also suggested that hitting Bryant was particularly egregious because Bryant showed class in refusing to take a curtain

call when he became the first player to hit three home runs and two doubles in one game in the Cubs’ 11-8 victory over the Reds on

Monday.

'Ruling' in Joey Votto-Philadelphia heckler case

C. Trent Rosecrans, crosecrans@enquirer.com 7:30 p.m. EDT June 30, 2016

WASHINGTON — Joey Votto didn’t exactly win his decision against a Philadelphia heckler on the Judge John Hodgman Podcast

posted on Wednesday, but the titular podcast host and judge did hear the case brought to him not by Votto, but by the heckler’s

wife.

The heckler, identified as Spencer, admitted to being over-served alcohol and heckling Votto by telling him he had small feet.

Spencer’s wife, Naomi, was embarrassed by his actions at a Reds-Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park on May 15.

When asked for comment Thursday, Votto said he didn't hear exactly what Spencer said. His reaction when told of the ruling? "Poor

guy."

For the record, Votto says he wears a size 13 shoe.

Although co-host and “bailiff” Jesse Thorn seemed to interpret Hodgman’s ruling as in favor of Spencer, it did seem to be more of a

split decision, with Hodgman ruling that Spencer’s actions were not appropriate for his seats close to the field, but more appropriate

for cheaper seats further from the action.

“I will order this,” Hodgman said in his judgment. “You cannot heckle at a Philadelphia Phillies’ game unless you are in a clear,

affirmative consent, heckling zone.”

Hodgman also noted that it is Philadelphia, where the comedian has been heckled. Hodgman noted it’s the only place he’s been

heckled.

Naomi alleged that her husband is a serial heckler, who among other things booed children during a Philadelphia Flyers game. The

couple currently live in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where Spencer is a bartender, but Spencer is originally from Louisville.

Hodgman ruled that heckling and inappropriate behavior is an integral part of Philadelphia sports culture, with Spencer adding that

he has seen other fans throw batteries at players.

The Enquirer’s Zach Buchanan described the incident thusly:

PHILADELPHIA – With two outs in the sixth inning of Cincinnati’s 9-4 win over Philadelphia on Sunday, Reds first baseman Joey

Votto ranged into foul territory to corral a grounder. He picked up the dead ball, he turned to the Phillies fans along the fence and

raised his arm to toss it into the crowd.

Nope. Votto spun to return the ball to his pitcher instead.

He walked back to his station in the infield with wearing a satisfied grin. Once he got there, he turned again to the crown and

pumped his fist in self-congratulation.”

At the time, Votto said his actions were in fun, telling Buchanan, “They give you a hard time during the game. That’s my way of

giving them a hard time back.”

Naomi said her husband was screaming “Joey’s got little feet,” and “size six women’s” over and over.

“I may or may not have caused a little child not to get a foul ball thrown to him,” Spencer admitted.

Reds' top draft pick Nick Senzel joins Dayton Dragons

C. Trent Rosecrans, crosecrans@enquirer.com 7:54 p.m. EDT June 30, 2016

First-round pick Nick Senzel and second-rounder Chris Okey have been promoted from Rookie Billings to low-Class A Dayton,

with the pair joining the Dragons Thursday for the start of a three-game homestand at Fifth Third Field.

Senzel started 5 for 33 in 10 games at Billings, and Okey was 6 for 37 in nine games there.

Senzel, a third baseman out of Tennessee, was the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and Okey, a catcher out of Clemson, was the No.

43 overall pick.

Cotham to Pensacola

Reds right-handed reliever Caleb Cotham has been sent to Double-A Pensacola on a rehab assignment. Cotham has been on the

disabled list since May 31 with right shoulder inflammation.

Cotham will make “somewhere in the neighborhood of five” appearances for the Blue Wahoos between now and July 11, Price said.

Cotham will then be reassessed.

Bench: 'Baseball Bunch' was 'easiest job in the world'

Dave Clark, dclark@cincinnati.com 8:54 p.m. EDT June 30, 2016

Fans of "The Baseball Bunch," a show hosted by National Baseball Hall of Famer and former Reds great Johnny Bench during the

1980s, won't want to miss SI.com's "oral history" of the show, written by Pete Croatto.

The show is described, at the beginning of the article, as a "charming half-hour children’s show that ran from 1981 to ’85, mostly on

NBC-syndicated stations. It almost always featured a major league player as a guest star, who would team up with host Johnny

Bench and the San Diego Chicken to have fun and teach a team of kids the game’s fundamentals."

An excerpt, in the form of a quote from Johnny: It just seemed like something I could really get into. First of all, we had the best

thing of all—The Chicken, somebody you could always play off of. Second, we had the best ballplayers in the world—Hall of

Famers, and guys that were really good and outgoing. All we had to do at that point was bring out their personalities. I had

experience doing that, and they thought it was the right mix. And to throw Tommy Lasorda in as the [Dugout] Wizard, it was just

perfect.

I was in grade school, but I'll best remember "Baseball Bunch" for sound advice from Bench, memorable appearances from some of

my favorite players and how they always picked on the San Diego Chicken.

WCPO - Channel 9 Fay: The Reds should make Jose Peraza the second baseman for the rest of the year

He's the future; Phillips is not

By: John Fay, WCPO contributor

Posted: 10:00 AM, Jun 30, 2016

CINCINNATI — Jose Peraza started at shortstop Wednesday.

His previous starts were at second base, center field and left field. Bryan Price is trying to get Peraza four starts a week. To do that,

he has to move him around.

“I like the fact that he’s here, and every chance I get to get him out there I will,” Price said. “It may not always be as easily as

playing in American League ballparks. I was able to get Billy (Hamilton) a day off the other day. Brandon (Phillips) a day off

(Monday). So it’s working right now.

“That being said, we’ll have to wait and see how long that lasts. He should be playing regularly. If he can play regularly here, that’s

great. If not, he’ll probably have to spend some time in Triple-A.”

Depending on the extent of the injury Hamilton suffered in the first inning of Wednesday's game, some playing time may have

opened for Peraza.

But there's a more permanent solution that would probably be better for Peraza’s long-term development: Make him the second

baseman for the rest of the year.

The problem there, of course, is the Reds have Brandon Phillips at second base, and he’s under contract for 2017 as well. But, even

under the most wildly optimistic forecasts, no one expects Phillips to be a Red when the team is contending again.

Peraza is the future. The Reds are confident he will hit in the big leagues. But they have to find out if he can play the infield. More

time at Triple-A will not further his development.

The Reds are obviously in rebuilding mode. But they’ve always been reluctant to go all-in. You could argue that they waited too

long to trade Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier.

I think they’ll trade Jay Bruce before the deadline. And I think there’s a good chance that they’ll trade Zack Cozart as well.

But I don’t think they’ll bench or designate Phillips for assignment. He’s owed a lot of money — the remainder of his $13 million

salary for this year and $14 million for next year. But that’s sunken cost.

The only way the Reds recoup any of that is to trade Phillips. That’s not likely to happen. Phillips holds 5-10 rights, i.e., as a 10-

year veteran and on the same club for five years, he can refuse any trade.

He did so after the Reds worked out a deal with the Washington Nationals in the offseason. So it’s likely he’d refuse another trade.

That’s why I’d tell him he’s no longer the starting second baseman. That may make him more willing to accept a trade.

The problem is that right now, Phillips’ trade value is way down. He went into Wednesday hitting .232/.275/.295 since May 8. He

just turned 35, which is semi-ancient for a middle infielder.

So there’s a good chance the Reds will not be able to trade Phillips, even if he were to accept it.

If that’s the case, the Reds are better off moving on by DFA’ing him. The Dodgers did that with Carl Crawford, whom they owed

$35 million. The Rockies did it with Jose Reyes, whom they owed $39 million. The Phillies went with a platoon with Ryan Howard,

who makes $25 million.

This is no knock on what Phillips has done. He’s a Reds Hall of Famer. He’s had a great career with the club. He’s been the most

entertaining player on the roster over the last 10 years.

But this is about the future. Peraza is part of it. Phillips is not. The Reds have to do what’s best for the future. Right now, that means

playing the 21-year-old.

DAYTON DAILY NEWS Cody Reed: ‘The School of Hard Knocks’

By: Hal McCoy

Posted: 11:34 am Thursday, June 30th, 2016

To say that Cody Reed is off to an inauspicious start is to say that it gets dark at night.

Reed, a tall left hander who most baseball people believe is the best pitcher in the Cincinnati Reds system, is pitching more like

Donna Reed right now.

In his first three starts he is 0-and-2 with a 9.00 earned run average on 16 runs and 24 hits in only 16 innings. And he has given up

six home runs in those 16 innings and five walks.

THOSE KINDS OF NUMBERS get most pitchers a ticket to Cucamonga or Timbuktu, but Reed is not most pitchers.

Yes, it is dark as night for Reed right now, but to boost his confidence all he need to do is to check the records of some proficient

pitchers from the past.

In his first two major league season, Tom Glavine was 9-and-21. In his first two seasons Greg Maddux was 8-and-18. In his first

five seasons Nolan Ryan was 29-and-38. In his first two seasons Randy Johnson was 10-and-13.

And those four pitchers have something in common besides starting their careers with mostly bad teams — they all are enshrined in

Cooperstown as four of the best pitchers ever.

THERE WAS A DAY in 1974 when the Reds were beating up the Philadelphia Phillies in Riverfront Stadium. Left handed pitcher

Tommy Underwood was barely off the plane after a call-up from the minors when he was inserted into the game for his major

league debut.

He recorded one out. He gave up six runs on four hits, including a home run) and two walks. And the Phillies lost the first five

games in which he appeared.

But in 1975 the Phillies turned him into a starting pitcher and while was not Hall of Fame calibre, not even close, he did win 86

games.

THIS IS, OF COURSE, not to say that Reed is on his way to the Hall of Fame, or even a productive career, but bad starts do not a

career make. And, yes, he is pitching for a bad team.

His major league debut was his best, a seven-inning outing in Houston during which he gave up four runs and six hits while walking

three and striking out nine. And he gave up two home runs.

After the game he was asked what he had learned in his debut and he said, “I learned that you can’t make mistakes with pitches in

the strike zone. If you do they hit them and they hit them hard.”

His next start was against San Diego and he gave up five runs and nine hits over five innings and gave up another home run.

On Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs it was Ugly Time — four innings, seven runs, nine hits, three home runs.

“I guess I’m just a slow learner,” Reed said after Wednesday’s game. “It isn’t like I was trying to give up home runs or trying to

walk people. My nerves get to me. I’m excited to get out there. I’m anxious. Things haven’t really been going my way. I’m trying to

look past it.”

REDS MANAGER BRYAN Price, one of Reed’s biggest boosters, looked on the bright side of Reed’s dark day.

“His best pitch today, as far as consistency and quality, was his changeup,” said Price during his post-game media meeting. “It’s a

pitch we asked him to spend a lot of time with Ted Power at Triple-A (Louisville). It’s a better pitch than it was in spring training.

He’s making some flat-plane fastball mistakes over the plate and throwing a lot of fastballs and these guys are putting it on the

barrel right now. He’ll make his adjustments.”

Glavine, Maddux, Ryan and Johnson made the proper adjustments, as did Underwood. And there is no doubt Reed will do the same.

Learning in the major leagues is, for sure, a School of Hard Knocks.

“You don’t come into spring training and pitch the best of our whole group if you don’t have a certain sense of self-confidence,”

Price said of the 6-5, 225-pounder from Horn Lake, Miss. “The wins and losses aren’t important in spring training, but you are

trying to make an impression and to compete and make the team. That’s pressure. He understands how to handle it, how to

compartmentalize it.

“This is a great opportunity for him and I don’t think he puts things on his shoulders and the burden of things he can’t control. He

just goes out there and pitches and it’s terrific. He is a very developed young guy.”

As Dorothy said to Toto in The Wizard of Oz, “Toto, I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” And Reed is not in spring

training anymore. It is ‘for real’ time and he is taking his learning lumps. How he responds will say a lot about his future.

ESPN.COM Reds-Nationals preview

11:58 PM ET

STATS LLC

WASHINGTON -- There has not been a lot of positive news around the last-place Cincinnati Reds this year, but slugger Adam

Duvall and pitcher Anthony DeSclafani are two of them.

Duvall shares the National League lead in home runs at 22 with Chicago's Kris Bryant while DeSclafani makes his fifth start of the

season Friday when he faces the first-place Washington Nationals and Tanner Roark in the second game of the series.

DeSclafani is 2-0 with a 1.52 ERA this season. In his last start, he went a career-high eight innings and gave up five hits and no runs

while throwing a season-high 117 pitches in a 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres.

The New Jersey native is 1-0 with a 2.35 ERA in five games in his career against Washington. He pitched out of the bullpen three

times for the Miami Marlins against the Nationals in 2014 and made two starts last year with the Reds.

"He has commanded the bottom of the strike zone on both sides of the plate," Reds manager Bryan Price said Thursday. "His best

two pitches are his fastball and slider but the ability to create speed separation with his changeup and curveball has been a big part

of his success."

The right-hander has bounced back since he lasted only 2 2/3 innings on June 15 as he gave up six hits and four runs in a 9-8 loss in

13 innings to the Atlanta Braves, though he did not figure in the decision.

DeSclafani has also made five minor league rehab starts this year. He began the season on the disabled list with a strained left

oblique suffered in his final spring training outing.

He made his major league debut in 2014 with the Miami Marlins.

The Reds need a good outing as Brandon Finnegan couldn't get out of the third inning on Thursday when the Nationals hit three

homers in a 13-4 victory. Shortstop Danny Espinosa hit two of the homers -- one from each side of the plate.

Roark, the Washington starter Friday, is 3-1 with a 2.30 ERA in his last four starts.

The Nationals used a starting pitcher -- top prospect Lucas Giolito -- for the first time on Tuesday who was not part of the five-man

rotation to the start the year.

Stephen Strasburg (10-0) went on the disabled list Sunday. When will he return?

"At this point, we still have half of the year to go. I'm more inclined not to rush him. I'm not in a hurry, personally," said Dusty

Baker, the Washington manager.

Roark won 15 games as a starter in 2014 and split last season between the bullpen and the rotation as Max Scherzer supplanted him

in the rotation.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Finnegan rocked hard as Reds fall to Nationals 13-4

By David Ginsburg

Updated: 11:38 p.m. Thursday, June 30, 2016 | Posted: 11:38 p.m. Thursday, June 30, 2016

WASHINGTON — There are plenty of reasons why the Cincinnati Reds have lost eight of nine and are in last place, 22 games

under .500.

At the top of the list: Ineffective starting pitching.

Brandon Finnegan was the latest culprit, allowing eight runs in an abbreviated performance that sent Cincinnati on its way to a 13-4

loss to the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.

Finnegan (3-7) gave up five hits, five walks and two home runs in 2 1/3 innings. He had never yielded more runs, or gotten fewer

outs, in any of his previous major league starts.

"You all saw the game. Not much to say about it," Finnegan said. "It was definitely my worst outing of the year — of my life,

honestly. Just have to get ready for my next start."

That's the mantra of a starting rotation that has put tremendous pressure on an overworked bullpen. Although Michael Lorenzen

provided three innings of shutout relief, manager Bryan Price was anything but elated.

"A large part of our ability to win is going to come down to what we're able to do with our starting pitching and the ability to shrink

the length of game that's being pitched by our bullpen," Price said. "We saw Lorenzen tonight, very good, three huge innings for us

in what was getting out of hand, but unfortunately that means we don't have Lorenzen (next game)."

Joey Votto homered for Cincinnati, which has yielded 40 runs in its last four games — all of them defeats.

Danny Espinosa's second career slam put Washington up 8-1 in the third inning, and he added a three-run homer in the fourth to

make it 13-1. Espinosa ranks second on the team with 15 homers despite usually batting eighth.

The switch-hitter connected off Finnegan batting right-handed, then went deep from the left side against Josh Smith. He is the first

Nationals player ever to homer from both sides of the plate, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Gio Gonzalez (4-7) gave up four runs and struck out nine over six innings for the NL East-leading Nationals, whose current five-

game winning streak comes on the heels of a seven-game skid. Gonzalez was 0-6 with an 8.44 ERA in his previous seven starts.

Ryan Zimmerman got the rout started with a three-run homer in the first inning against the lowly Reds.

Washington tied a season high for runs in a game without receiving a contribution from reigning NL MVP Bryce Harper, who was

given the night off by manager Dusty Baker.

"His legs are a little tired," Baker said, noting that Harper twisted his ankle earlier in the week. "He's been playing through things

the last couple days."

HIT PARADE

Reds: It was the second time in seven games that Cincinnati lost by nine runs. The Reds have allowed at least 13 runs eight times

this season.

Nationals: During its five-game winning streak, Washington has outscored the opposition 36-12.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Reds: RHP Caleb Cotham (right shoulder inflammation) was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment Thursday night at Class-AA

Pensacola against Chattanooga. Manager Bryan Price said the plan is to have Cotham pitch around five times in the minors, "and

then we'll reassess." Cotham has been on the DL since May 31. ... OF Billy Hamilton passed concussion protocol and was in the

starting lineup after being struck in the face by a deflected line drive Wednesday.

Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (back, ribs) is eligible to return from the DL on Friday, but that almost certainly will not happen.

"I'm more inclined not to rush him," Baker said.

UP NEXT

Reds: RHP Anthony DeSclafani (2-0, 1.52 ERA) makes his fifth start of the season, bringing a 13-inning scoreless streak into

Friday night's game against Washington.

Nationals: RHP Tanner Roark (7-5, 2.96) is 3-1 with a 2.30 ERA over his last four starts.

TRANSACTIONS 06/30/16

Baltimore Orioles activated RHP Vance Worley from the 15-day disabled list.

Baltimore Orioles activated C Caleb Joseph from the 15-day disabled list.

Baltimore Orioles selected the contract of RHP Chaz Roe from Norfolk Tides.

Baltimore Orioles placed LHP T.J. McFarland on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 29, 2016. Left knee inflammation.

Arizona Diamondbacks placed LF Rickie Weeks Jr. on the bereavement list.

Colorado Rockies sent RHP Tyler Chatwood on a rehab assignment to Modesto Nuts.

San Francisco Giants sent RHP Sergio Romo on a rehab assignment to Sacramento River Cats.

Oakland Athletics optioned Zach Neal to Nashville Sounds.

Oakland Athletics recalled Andrew Triggs from Nashville Sounds.

Oakland Athletics recalled Daniel Coulombe from Nashville Sounds.

Oakland Athletics placed LHP Sean Doolittle on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to June 26, 2016. Strained left shoulder.

Seattle Mariners placed C Steve Clevenger on the 15-day disabled list. Fractured third metacarpal in right hand.

Seattle Mariners recalled Tom Wilhelmsen from Tacoma Rainiers.

Seattle Mariners recalled Mike Zunino from Tacoma Rainiers.

Seattle Mariners optioned RHP Donn Roach to Tacoma Rainiers.

Oakland Athletics signed LHP A.J. Puk.

San Francisco Giants designated RHP Jake Smith for assignment.

San Francisco Giants optioned Chris Stratton to Sacramento River Cats.

San Francisco Giants selected the contract of 2B Grant Green from Sacramento River Cats.

Pittsburgh Pirates sent Jorge Rondon outright to Indianapolis Indians.

Miami Marlins transferred RHP Bryan Morris from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list. Lumbar disc herniation.

Atlanta Braves activated RHP Mike Foltynewicz from the 15-day disabled list.

Cincinnati Reds sent RHP Caleb Cotham on a rehab assignment to Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

Los Angeles Angels sent C Geovany Soto on a rehab assignment to Salt Lake Bees.

Toronto Blue Jays optioned Ryan Tepera to Buffalo Bisons.

Toronto Blue Jays activated LHP Brett Cecil from the 15-day disabled list.

San Diego Padres traded RHP Fernando Rodney to Miami Marlins for RHP Chris Paddack.

Los Angeles Dodgers designated LHP Ian Thomas for assignment.

Atlanta Braves traded RHP Bud Norris, LF Dian Toscano, Player To Be Named Later and cash to Los Angeles Dodgers for LHP

Philip Pfeifer and RHP Caleb Dirks.

New York Mets optioned Sean Gilmartin to Las Vegas 51s.

New York Mets recalled Seth Lugo from Las Vegas 51s.

Baltimore Orioles optioned Francisco Pena to Norfolk Tides.

Chicago White Sox signed free agent OF Tony Campana to a minor league contract.

Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent SS Nick King to a minor league contract.

Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent IF Daniel Cucjen to a minor league contract.

Chicago White Sox recalled Matt Davidson from Charlotte Knights.

Chicago White Sox optioned LHP Matt Purke to Charlotte Knights.

Baltimore Orioles optioned Oliver Drake to Norfolk Tides.