Reds Rookie Andrew Abbott Dominates Giants in 8-Inning Gem
CINCINNATI — Cincinnati Reds rookie left-hander Andrew Abbott continues to shine on the mound, as he delivered another impressive performance on Thursday afternoon against the San Francisco Giants. Abbott pitched eight scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and leading the Reds to a convincing 5-1 victory at Great American Ball Park.
As Abbott walked off the field after his seventh shutout inning, the home fans erupted in a loud and appreciative ovation. Little did they know, Abbott had even more to give. Finishing with a total of eight scoreless innings, Abbott’s stellar start propelled the Reds to a series split with the Giants.
After the game, Abbott mentioned that the bullpen had been taxed lately, so he wanted to “use all of his bullets.” The 24-year-old lefty walked two and struck out six in his dominant outing. In nine starts since his promotion to the majors on June 5, Abbott boasts an impressive 5-2 record with a 2.10 ERA and 0.92 WHIP. Seven of those starts have been quality starts.
One constant in Abbott’s success has been catcher Luke Maile, who has been behind the plate for all of Abbott’s starts. Maile had high praise for his battery mate, describing him as “really good” and expressing that catching Abbott is a lot of fun. The two didn’t even work together during Spring Training, highlighting the immediate chemistry they have developed.
Abbott’s afternoon got off to a strong start, retiring 11 of his first 13 batters. The lone hit against him came in the fourth inning when Luis Matos hit a double to the left-center field wall. However, shortstop Elly De La Cruz made a perfect relay to throw out Wilmer Flores at the plate, preserving Abbott’s shutout.
Abbott credits his teammates’ defensive efforts as vital to his success, particularly Jake Fraley’s diving catch to take a hit away from Patrick Bailey. He also mentioned receiving guidance from Maile and pitching coach Derek Johnson to make necessary adjustments throughout the game.
Despite feeling that he didn’t have his best stuff, Abbott was able to make adjustments and keep the Giants’ offense at bay. His curveball and changeup weren’t as effective as usual, but he focused on direction and improving his pitch location to get ahead in counts.
With this win, the Reds’ starters now have a 2.79 ERA and five quality starts in their last seven games, showcasing a strong performance from the rotation. As for Abbott, his workload will be carefully managed moving forward, as he approaches his career-high innings total of 118 last season. Although fatigue was a factor on a hot day, Abbott’s strong outing made the decision easier for manager David Bell to pull him after eight dominant innings.
Abbott’s remarkable start garnered another round of applause from the fans as he exited the field. The rookie lefty has quickly established himself as a key piece in the Reds’ rotation, and his continued success will be crucial for the team’s playoff push down the stretch.