Fortunes change fast in baseball as the Cincinnati Reds have seen over the first 10 days of May.
Around 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 9, the Reds were still mired in an eight-game losing streak and at risk of seeing the streak extended as they trailed Houston Astros in the fifth inning. By about 5 p.m. on May 10, Cincinnati had won the series against the Astros.
After the May 9 comeback win, the Reds closed out the Astros series with a 3-0 victory Sunday at Great American Ball Park.
Andrew Abbott continued a strong run of performances with his start of six innings and no runs allowed on just three hits. Abbott ran his personal scoreless innings streak to 17 2/3 innings. He last allowed a run April 30 against the Colorado Rockies.
Three of Abbott’s five strikeouts came against Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez.
Cincinnati’s bats rallied in the third inning against Houston starter Kai-Wei Teng, whose appearance was his 15th of the year but just his second start. In consecutive at-bats, Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, JJ Bleday and Tyler Stephenson hit a single, double, triple and a single for a 3-0 lead.
Bleday’s triple made it 2-0 and Stephenson’s single added another run. In the fifth inning, Matt McLain’s bases-loaded walk drove in a run for 4-0. McLain had three RBIs in the series, including the eventual game-winning two-run single on May 9.
De La Cruz went 3-for-4 in the game with three singles and two runs scored. His batting average climbed to .290 (.881 OPS).
Spencer Steer added a solo home run in the sixth for a 5-0 lead. It was Steer’s seventh homer of 2026.
In the space of a day, the Reds not only ended their losing streak but further distanced themselves from it via the series win, bringing their record to a 22-19. That’s just fine for May 10.
The return to winning ways isn’t to suggest the Reds aren’t without their troubles. Another member of the team’s Opening Day starting rotation − Rhett Lowder − was set to be added to the injured list. The Reds confirmed May 10 Lowder’s move to the IL due to shoulder fatigue wasn’t official yet but would occur.
Lowder joined Brandon Williamson (60-day IL) and Hunter Greene on the IL. Greene’s return isn’t expected for months.
Nick Lodolo’s IL stint came to end during the Astros series, and that was a welcome development. His 2026 debut for the Reds on May 8 plugged one of two holes in the rotation, but the Reds will need to cover for the one remaining opening.
Last week, the Reds covered their needs by turning to 23-year-old Chase Petty, and he came up from Triple-A Louisville to deliver 5 2/3 innings, falling one out short of a quality start.
Cincinnati’s off day May 11 is their first since April 27. It’s possible that could influence decision making regarding pitching needs for the upcoming series against the Washington Nationals, and beyond. Reds pitchers, both starters and relievers, labored at times since April 27. Catcher Jose Trevino was called on four times in 10 days to eat innings and preserve arms for the Reds, albeit in games when Cincinnati’s defeats were by lopsided margins.
Reds homestand continues vs. Washington Nationals
After an off day May 11, Cincinnati will host the Washington Nationals for three games May 12-14. The Reds have Brady Singer and Nick Lodolo lined up for the series opener and finale, respectively. The middle game on May 13 is a question mark for now in terms of starting pitching.
Cincinnati is scheduled to face Miles Mikolas (1-3, 7.44 ERA) in the May 12 series opener. Jake Irvin (1-4, 5.22 ERA) is scheduled for the middle game and Foster Griffin (4-1, 2.12 ERA) is set for the series finale matinee (12:40 p.m. EDT).
The Nationals will arrive in Cincinnati having lost two of three games to the Miami Marlins. The “Nats” are in third place in the National League East division via their 19-22 record. Washington is 13-9 in road games so far in 2026. Cincinnati is 12-9 at Great American Ball Park.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds, Andrew Abbott, shut out Astros to win series