PHOENIX — Spencer Steer woke up a slumbering offense with a three-run homer in the eighth, and Brady Singer spun another gem as the Reds kept their sweepless streak alive with a 6-1 win over the Diamondbacks on Sunday afternoon at Chase Field.
The Reds needed a win in the finale for the eighth time this season, but Steer’s much-needed blast helped extend the franchise record previously held by the 1970 National League championship club to 43 straight series to begin a season without being swept.
“It was huge,” Singer said. “We’ve been doing that all year, where our backs are against the wall and we make something happen that last game. Just huge by the offense and everybody else.”
“You show up to win and when you don’t for a couple days [it’s nice to get back on track],” manager Terry Francona said. “Plus, it’s a travel day, so that always makes the flight a little better.”
It looked for a while like the flight wasn’t going to be so happy.
Working with rookie catcher Will Banfield, who was making his first career start behind the dish, Singer had a rocky start when Geraldo Perdomo opened the first with a triple and scored on a sac fly. But the veteran righty dug in and held the D-backs hitless and scoreless for the rest of his six innings.
He was quick to share credit with the 25-year-old catcher.
“I trusted him back there. He was tremendous,” Singer said. “He did a lot of homework all week. I told him he was catching me a couple days ago, and he went to work and he was phenomenal. I never second-guessed a pitch he called or anything like that.”
The 95-pitch outing extended quite a run for Singer, who gave up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings in Washington on July 21 but has since flipped the switch. Over his last six starts, Singer is 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 35 innings.
“He’s been unbelievable,” said outfielder Austin Hays, who went 3-for-5 with a run scored. “He’s attacking, he’s throwing a ton of strikes, getting a ton of swing and misses. He looks as good as he’s looked all year.”
Singer settled for a no-decision on Sunday, however, because the Reds were kept in check by D-backs starter Zac Gallen and found themselves in a 1-0 hole after five innings.
That’s when Noelvi Marte started to stoke the fire.
Marte turned a one-out triple into a game-tying Little League homer when shortstop Perdomo’s throw, on a relay from center fielder Alek Thomas, got away at third base. Marte slid into home headfirst and let out a roar toward the Reds’ dugout.
Marte has had a great season at the plate, but he’s seemingly taken it up a notch since the Trade Deadline acquisition of third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes allowed him to move to right field, where he’s more comfortable.
In 20 games since Hayes’ arrival, Marte has hit .329 with 11 extra-base hits and 12 RBIs.
“Being in the outfield gives you more time to think,” he said. “So now that I’m out there, it gives me a chance to go over my last at-bat and think about what I want to do in my next at-bat. …
“My confidence level is up to the roof right now, better than it’s ever been.”
Two innings later, with the score still locked at 1, Marte led off with a single, then he appeared to catch the D-backs by surprise by taking second base on Elly De La Cruz’s flyout to right field. The Reds followed that with five more hits, including Steer’s homer, as they put the game away.
That kind of heads-up play, right on the heels of Marte creating a run with his hustle in the sixth, drew effusive praise from his manager.
“It’s been fun. When you’re in the Minor Leagues, you see guys getting better as the season goes. A lot of times up here that’s not necessarily the case,” Francona said. “But with him, I think he’s understanding what it takes to be a Major League everyday player.
“His tools are just obvious, but he’s playing the game, he’s moving runners, he’s hustling down the line. That [Little League homer] could have been a double and nobody would have said anything. I’m proud of him.”
