The Cincinnati Reds will look to win a series in Toronto for the first time when they face the Blue Jays on Tuesday night in the middle game of a three-game set. Prior to a 6-3 victory over Toronto on Monday that opened a seven-game trip, Cincinnati had dropped nine of the 12 games it played across the border since interleague play began. The Reds were 0-4 in road series against the Blue Jays.
With their latest victory, the Reds pulled within 5 1/2 games of the idle Atlanta Braves in the race for the final National League wild-card spot. It was a much-needed win for a Cincinnati team that was just swept in a three-game set by the visiting Kansas City Royals over the weekend. Kansas City outscored the Reds 28-3 in that series.
"That hurt with what happened at home," said Cincinnati catcher Tyler Stephenson, who went 1-for-4 with a run on Monday. "But the beautiful thing in baseball is today's a new day with new opportunities." Stephenson started a four-run rally in the sixth inning on Monday by reaching first on a passed ball while striking out.
A single by TJ Friedl and doubles by Spencer Steer, Ty France and Jake Fraley followed. "You can't do the math. Not yet," Friedl said of watching the standings and the playoff race.
"There's still so many games left -- there's so much that can happen. It's way too early to count. You just put your head down each day and do the best you can.
" Cincinnati got four innings from starter Julian Aguiar on Monday in his major league debut. The.