Garrett struggles again in loss
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The confidence that served Amir Garrett so well earlier this season isn’t gone, he said, even if the results have shifted.
The Cincinnati Reds’ rookie left- hander didn’t make it through the fourth inning in Tuesday’s 6- 5 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, as he struggled with his control and walked four batters and allowed six runs in just 3 innings.
“I still think I’m one of the best,” Garrett said. “It has never been a confidence issue. I have to go out there and just compete. I’m still as confident as ever. Going into the season, I knew what I am capable of doing. I just have to do it.”
Garrett is 0- 3 with a 12.15 ERA in four starts since coming off the disabled list and the team has lost each of his last six starts. He failed to pitch more than four innings for the fifth time in 12 starts this season.
Garrett breezed through the first two innings, giving up just one hit and needing only 27 pitches as the Reds jumped to a 2-0 lead.
In the third inning, things went off the rails, starting with a leadoff walk to second baseman Taylor Featherston, who entered the game hitting just .188. After a flyout, he walked another and then gave up RBI singles to Corey Dickerson and Logan Morrison to give up the lead.
In the fourth, he gave up a one- out walk to Featherston and then surrendered a home run to catcher Jesus Sucre, the No. 9 hitter. After a Dickerson homer made it 6- 2, Price came out to get the 25- year- old rookie.
The bullpen again was steady with scoreless appearances by Lisalverto Bonilla ( two innings), Tony Cingrani ( 1 innings) and Ariel Hernandez ( one inning).
The Reds also managed to get back in the game, with a run in the eighth and two more in the ninth against Rays closer Alex Colome. With two outs, Joey Votto hit his 20th home run of the season to cut the lead to two. That was followed by a double by Adam Duvall and an RBI single by Eugenio Suarez, but Scott Schebler struck out to end the game.