Reds add Bradley to bullpen
The Cincinnati Reds acquired reliever Archie Bradley from the Arizona Diamondbacks just before the trade deadline Monday, boosting their bullpen as they try to stay in the playoff race.
The Diamondbacks received outfielders Josh Vanmeter and Stuart Fairchild in the deal. The Reds also received cash.
The 28-year-old Bradley has been an important part of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen the past four years and earned the closer’s role midway through last season. He has a 4.22 ERA and six saves in 10 appearances this season.
Vanmeter has played two seasons in the big leagues. The 25-year-old hit .237 with eight homers, 23 RBI and had nine stolen bases last season while playing first, second, third and left field. He has struggled in 2020, going 2 for 34 at the plate in limited playing time.
The 24-year-old Fairchild was a second-round pick by the Reds in 2017 and split last year between single-a and double-a.
Cardinals hold off Reds
Paul Dejong slugged his first career grand slam, and the St. Louis Cardinals held on to beat the Reds 7-5 on Monday night in the opener of a threegame series.
The Cardinals loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth inning on Kolten Wong’s single and walks by Paul Goldschmidt and Brad Miller. Dejong capitalized, sending Anthony Desclafani’s full-count pitch over the center field fence for his second homer of the season. Eugenio Suarez drove in four runs for Cincinnati, three on a ninth-inning home run, his eighth of the season. The Reds have lost three of four after winning three straight.
Desclafani (1-2), a new father in his first start since Aug. 21 after spending three days on the paternity list, labored through 3 2/3 innings.
Reds manager David Bell and outfielder Jesse Winker both were suspended and fined for their involvement in Saturday’s benches-clearing incident with the Cubs. Joey Votto was fined. Bell sat out Monday’s game. Winker appealed and played.
Royals turn back Indians
Maikel Franco and Bubba Starling had RBI singles in the eighth inning, and the Kansas City Royals rallied to beat the Cleveland Indians 2-1 Monday night in the first game of a three-game series.
James Karinchak (0-2) took the loss. He walked the first two batters he faced, and they scored on the hits by Franco and Starling.
Tribe starter Shane Bieber threw six scoreless innings, striking out nine and allowing one hit. He also lowered his major league-leading ERA to 1.20 and increased his major-league lead to 84 strikeouts. Royals starter Brad Keller allowed one run in 6 1/3 innings on three hits. The Indians finally got to Keller in the seventh. After retiring Francisco Lindor leading off, he gave up a single to Carlos Santana and then an RBI double to Franmil Reyes.