Abbott All-Star like, Reds beat Cards to avoid sweep

Reds 4 Cards 1

The Reds really, really......really needed Andrew Abbott on Sunday.

With a depleted bullpen, a three game losing streak, and staring at the prospect of their first season sweep, Abbott put the Reds on his back.
Battling brutal heat, he was ace-like and All-Star like, tossing seven innings of one run ball, allowing just three hits.

That a nice response by a Reds team (40-38) gutted by arguably their toughest loff of the season 24 hours earlier.

Abbott: 7 IN, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 100 pitches. ERA 1.79.
Pitch count climbed early. Settled down. Retired final 18.

Offense: 6 H, 1 BB, 10 K. Six different players with one hit.
McLain: HR. 10 game hit streak. Back up to No. 2 spot.
Friedl: H, RBI
Fraley: H, 2B, R, RBI
Steer: H, SB
Elly: 2B, R
Trevino: 2B

Bullpen:
Rogers 0.2. Walked .138 Barrero in 8th, Richardson 0.1, Pagan 1.0, save.

How they scored:
1st McLain HR (9), 1-0 Reds
5th Fraley RBI 2B, Friedl sac fly RBI, 3-1 Reds
6th: Lux RBI groundout, 4-1 Reds

Defense:
Trevino nice foul pop along netting
Fraley sliding catch in RF
Steer nice snag at 1B