“It’s awesome,” Garrett said Tuesday. “Not one time have I been here and we were down and I didn’t believe we would come back. This team, we can do anything. What we’re capable of doing is amazing.”
The Reds (12-13) entered Tuesday tied with the St. Louis Cardinals and one game back of the Chicago Cubs (13-12) and Milwaukee Brewers (14-13) in the National League Central Division. The Pirates (11-14) sat one game back of the Reds and Cardinals in the crowded standings.
Although the Reds have struggled since their 7-2 start, they are two games ahead of where they were last year at this time and seven games closer to the division lead. The Cubs sprinted to a big lead in the first month a year ago. With a 10-15 start, the Reds were eight games out of first pace.
Garrett’s performance Monday in the fifth start of his career gives the Reds another reason to think they can stick around in the race.
“We’re going to be a good club down the road,” Garrett said. “We’re a good club right now. We have some great pieces. We’re only going to continue to get better. Everybody just has to be on the right page. When our pitching’s on, our hitting’s got to be on. When our hitting’s on, we need our pitching to be on at the same time. We’re going to be really good.”
Garrett (2-2) bounced back from the worst outing of his young career. He allowed nine earned runs in 3 1/3 innings in an 11-7 loss to the Brewers on April 24. His ERA jumped from 1.83 to 5.09. It dropped to 4.50 with his latest start. He has 26 strikeouts in 30 innings
“I never lost my confidence,” Garrett said. “It was just another game. I knew the Brewers game was just a bad day. Not one time did I get down on myself. I was still high on my stuff. I still had confidence in my ability to pitch. I just went in there and pitched my game, and it was a great feeling to have a game like that after the previous start I had.”
WEDNESDAY’S GAME
Pirates at Reds, 7:10 p.m., FS Ohio, 700, 1410
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