Sunday proved more than a mere defeat for several members of the Reds’ pitching roster. It delivered an emotional blow as one of their comrades, who had battled through two Tommy John surgeries, departed after just one pitch in the sixth inning.
Tejay Antone, in his fourth appearance of the season, felt discomfort in his right elbow, prompting concern. Manager David Bell confirmed Antone’s scheduled MRI on Monday.
Antone relieved starter Andrew Abbott, but his sudden departure necessitated lefty Brent Suter to step in and contain the Mets, which he did admirably over three scoreless innings. Buck Farmer sealed the ninth inning without conceding a run. However, the Reds’ valiant effort wasn’t enough as they succumbed to a 3-1 defeat, marking their first series loss of the season.
Despite being limited to three hits and one run over five innings by Mets’ pitcher Sean Manaea, the Reds couldn’t mount a comeback. The Mets’ bullpen, including Edwin Díaz who secured his second save of the series, held them at bay.
Cincinnati’s loss marked their initial series defeat of the 2024 season, having dropped two out of three games.
Amid the distress of seeing a teammate exit due to injury, the game pressed on. Suter, thrust into action, focused on supporting his team. He managed to keep the Mets at bay and remained ready for future games.
Suter shared his concern for Antone, revealing a heartfelt moment shared between teammates. The outfielder, Bubba Thompson, also made a notable contribution in his debut start with a crucial catch in the first inning.
Abbott faced challenges, but he managed to keep the Reds in the game, pitching five innings and minimizing the damage despite early struggles.
In the face of adversity, Abbott maintained his focus on pitching effectively to support his team, emphasizing the importance of pitching deep into games to alleviate pressure on the bullpen and the team as a whole.
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