Virus shuts down Reds

The Reds became the third Major League Baseball team to have games called off because one of its players tested positive for COVID-19.

The last two games of a series between the Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park were postponed Saturday after one Cincinnati player tested positive.

The Reds have started the contact-tracing process to potentially isolate players who came into contact with the infected player. The team is likely to undergo increased testing beyond the standard everyother-day saliva test.

The Reds join the Marlins and Cardinals with games called off because of positive tests on their roster, creating a ripple effect through the schedule that has limited some teams to a handful of games.

MLB was awaiting further test results and doing contact tracing to gauge the extent of the concerns. Matt Davidson tested positive during the opening series of the abbreviated, 60-game season and went on the injured list. Later tests cleared him. Three other Reds — Joey Votto, Mike Moustakas and Nick Senzel — missed games after feeling sick, but tested negative.

MLB postponed the rest of the series seven hours before the scheduled first pitch on Saturday night. The Reds and Pirates could potentially play a doubleheader on Monday, when both have an off-day.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

Twins 4, Royals 2: Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer and host Minnesota held on to win the first game of a doubleheader. Cruz’s fifth homer of the season was his 406th career homer, one behind Duke Snider for 56th all-time. Tyler Duffey (1-0) earned the win with a perfect inning in relief of Jake Odorizzi. Taylor Rogers picked up his fifth save.

Cardinals 5-6, White Sox 1-3: Dexter Fowler helped visiting St. Louis get off to a fast start in its return from a coronavirus outbreak with a two-run single in a four-run first inning. Cardinals righthander Adam Wainwright (2-0) pitched five innings of one-run ball. Giovanny Gallegos then struck out the side in the sixth before John Gant finished the seven-inning game. The Cardinals (4-3), who hadn’t played since July 29, completed the sweep as Paul Goldschmidt and Tyler O'Neill homered in the nightcap. Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert homered for Chicago in the second game, but the White Sox had just six hits all day.

Brewers 6, Cubs 5: Avisail Garcia doubled home the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and visiting Milwaukee handed Chicago its first two-game losing streak this season. Garcia doubled off Jeremy Jeffress to score automatic runner Christian Yelich from second base to start the 10th. Luis Urias reached on an infield single for an insurance run. David Phelps (2-1) threw a scoreless inning. Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo homered and had three hits.

ELSEWHERE

Braves: Atlanta placed star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. on the 10-day injured list retroactively Saturday because of lingering wrist soreness.