CINCINNATI — The Reds packed up their belongings for a road trip that could last just three days for their final regular-season series at Milwaukee, or for as much as 10 days if they make the playoffs and get past the first round.
“I would say this would be a very good test to see who believes,” manager Terry Francona noted Thursday morning. “Because if you see people [packed] with 10 underwear, they believe. If you see people with two, you might want to filter them out.”
A game-saving catch by right fielder Noelvi Marte to preserve a 2-1 Reds win over the Pirates on Thursday kept belief alive that claiming the final National League Wild Card spot remains possible. Marte leaped above the fence and reached his glove into the seats for a catch that took a game-tying home run away from Bryan Reynolds.
“Under the circumstances, that’s one of the best plays we’ve ever seen. Taking the time of the game, the time of the season, how high he got up,” Francona said.
Reds closer Emilio Pagán had one out and a 3-0 count on Reynolds when a fastball was launched deep to right field. Marte tracked the ball back to the fence and timed his jump perfectly.
“When he first hit, I thought it was too high,” said Pagán, who notched his 30th save. “I just started watching Noelvi and when he didn’t stop going, I was like, ‘Oh no, you’ve got to be kidding me.’ Then he goes and makes an ‘Odell Beckham’ catch and saves the day.
“I didn’t know he could jump that high. It looked like his glove was in the second row. From my point of view, it was pretty awesome.”
After hitting his share of homers in professional baseball, Marte got to experience taking one away.
“In this specific moment, taking a home run away is absolutely the best,” Marte said via translator Tomas Vera. “I think we needed it. I’ve never had this feeling before.”
Cincinnati will need belief — and also some outside help — to earn that final NL Wild Card spot. But for the first time during their final home series vs. the Pirates, they helped themselves Thursday.
And maybe Marte’s catch provided a sprinkle of magic.
“I don’t care what adjective you put with it,” Francona said. “Magic, desperation. That game’s tied. That’s taking a run off the board. Score is 2-1. So you can do the math. Even I can.”
Aided by a huge pitching performance from Nick Lodolo and his 12 strikeouts over 6 1/3 scoreless innings, the Reds at least salvaged one game in the three-game series. It came after a pair of losses to last-place Pittsburgh that dented their chances at reaching the postseason.
The Reds (81-78) are a game behind the Mets, who beat the Cubs Thursday night, for the final NL Wild Card spot. They’re one game ahead of the Diamondbacks, who fell to the Dodgers Thursday afternoon.
“Everyone just jumped up. We were going nuts,” Lodolo said. “Happy for him. He’s been working to adjust to a position he’s never played. To make a play like that is pretty cool.”
Francona noted that besides being happy for Marte, he was happy for first base/outfield coach Collin Cowgill, who has helped the 23-year-old adjust to the new position.
“He’s worked so diligently with him the last three months. That’s pretty cool,” Francona said of Cowgill.
The catch was reminiscent of one Glenn Braggs made for the Reds in Game 6 of the 1990 NL Championship Series. Although there was a runner on base, it was also the ninth inning of a 2-1 game, and Braggs’ leaping grab to rob Carmelo Martinez saved the game as Cincinnati advanced to the World Series.
“I feel happy about myself, to be honest with you,” said Marte, who also hit an RBI single in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie. “I feel like all this hard work I put in, all the time to come in for early work, and I see the results paid off. It feels great.”
Marte felt that was about as high off the ground as he was capable of getting.
“I’m going to be honest with you. I believe so,” he said. “I didn’t even feel my feet when I went up.”
All that remains are three games vs. the first-place Brewers. Milwaukee has beaten the Reds in each of the last 13 series, 14 out of 15 and 17 of the last 19 since 2021. If they can take care of business while having some other cards fall their way, Cincinnati can reach the postseason for the first time since 2020.
“It doesn’t really matter who we play right now. We don’t really care,” Pagán said. “We just want to finish strong and give ourselves an opportunity. Obviously, it’s going to be a talking point because of the history. We’re a different team. We’re a different team than when we were last in Milwaukee, and [the team] that’s been playing against them the last few years.”
