Andrew Abbott has strong start vs. Marlins after being named an All-Star

CINCINNATI — Need to stop a losing streak? Call an All-Star.

Abbott took a shutout into the top of the eighth inning before allowing a two-out RBI single to Heriberto Hernandez. He allowed one earned run over 7 2/3 innings with six hits, two walks and five strikeouts. After Abbott gave up the run on his 100th pitch, the crowd of 15,867 fans showed appreciation for his night and his All-Star status with a standing ovation. Abbott simply tipped his cap.

“That was awesome,” Abbott said. “I’m a modest guy. I’m not going to do anything crazy coming off [the field]. It feels really good for the work that we’ve done in the first half. Just continue with it in the second half.”

Abbott improved to 8-1 with a 2.07 ERA in his final start before the All-Star break. In 13 of his 16 starts, he’s allowed one or fewer earned runs. Cincinnati snapped a season-high-tying four-game losing streak. The fourth-place Reds (47-46) are 7 1/2 games back in the NL Central and 3 1/2 games back from the third Wild Card spot as the July 31 Trade Deadline looms.

Stopping the losing streak wasn’t a pressure additive for Abbott.

“It’s just another game to me,” he said. “I still have to go out. I still have to perform. I still have to go execute.”

One streak that was kept alive: the Reds’ status as the only Major League club yet to be swept in a series this season. Per Elias, the 30-series streak without a sweep matches the 1989 team for the second-longest streak to open a season in club history, behind only the 1970 team’s 32-series streak without a sweep.

“[Abbott’s] been pitching well all year,” said manager Terry Francona, who moved to three wins shy of 2,000 for his career. “I don’t care if he’s extending, stopping [streaks], he’s just been a good pitcher. The more outings you get like that, then you have a chance to maybe put a string together.”

After scoring five runs in their four straight losses combined, the Reds pounced on struggling former Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara in the first inning for a 3-0 lead. All-Star Elly De La Cruz drove in Matt McLain from second base with a one-out RBI double for the first run and came home on an Austin Hays single into left field. With two outs, Tyler Stephenson’s single to center field plated Hays.

In the fourth inning, Noelvi Marte made up for a couple of dicey throws earlier on defense with a two-run homer to left field on a first pitch from Alcantara. TJ Friedl kept the pressure on with a single to center field and scored on De La Cruz’s second RBI double past a diving Hernandez in left-center field.

Abbott took care of business on the other end. He worked around a double in the first inning and a leadoff walk in the second. However, Miami hitters slugged three straight fly balls at or near the warning track in the second inning. It prompted a course correction after Abbott got together with catcher Stephenson and pitching coach Derek Johnson.

Johnson suggested using more cutters, which Abbott threw 14 times. The average exit velocity on the contact was only 78.9 mph, according to Statcast.

“They were hanging over the plate away,” Abbott said. “We were like, ‘Maybe we need to get there throwing fastballs or cutters or something to stand them up and kind of keep them off-balance.’ So we just kind of shifted the game plan to that. It started to make them look a little uncomfortable and kind of opened up every other avenue.”

After a leadoff single in the fourth inning, Abbott retired 11 in a row and 14 of 16. That included a six-pitch fifth inning.

“You could tell by some of the swings how kind of in-between they were,” Stephenson said. “It was fun making that in-game adjustment. He made some really good pitches, and it showed.”

After taking him out, Francona told Abbott he would have his second-half rotation set soon but to otherwise make his All-Star plans for Atlanta and enjoy himself.

“Tip of the iceberg with that. It’s going to be a fun couple of days,” Abbott said.

Abbott is the Reds’ first left-handed starter to be named an All-Star since John Smiley in 1995. As his battery mate, Stephenson took pride in the achievement.

“I felt like [from] his first start, he’s just been rolling,” Stephenson said. “I’m super happy for him. He deserves it. It’s been really fun to be a part of.”