MINNEAPOLIS – The Cincinnati Reds don’t lead the league in much this season. In fact, they’re so far out of the lead in the National League Central that they were officially eliminated Friday night with 13 games to play.
They don’t even lead in stolen bases anymore.
But when it comes to too little, too late, nobody can touch the Reds these days.
Back-to-back-routs of the playoff-minded Minnesota Twins Friday and Saturday suddenly have the Reds surging with five wins in their last seven games.
After riding a nine-run fourth inning to an 11-1 victory Saturday, the Reds improved to 9-4 this month behind the best starting pitching in the majors in September – despite four of this season's top five starters on the injured list and the fifth having been traded away more than six weeks ago.
The pitching staff overall has a 2.25 ERA in that stretch with the bullpen going 6-for-6 in save chances.
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They didn't get that kind of across-the-board production even when the rotation was fully healthy and the top three pitching like All-Stars.
"It starts with starting pitching," manager David Bell said, "and having Nick (Martinez) on the mound, knowing what to expect when he's out there; he's going to give us a great effort. And just a great start again."
In 13 games in September, Reds starters are 5-0 with a 1.71 ERA.
Right-hander Nick Martinez, who went six innings Saturday for the win, is a big part of that production, going 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in three starts this month.
He's 4-1 with a 2.92 ERA in nine starts since rejoining the rotation full-time the week after Opening Day starter Frankie Montas was traded to the Brewers at the deadline.
"He knows how to pitch. He's been on a great roll," Bell said.
Martinez, perhaps the most valuable pitcher on the staff this year for his versatility and success, sees a value in the late-season surge the team is experiencing, especially for the handful of players getting increased opportunities to show something ahead of a crossroads offseason -- including guys like rookie pitcher Julian Aguiar, who earned the win Friday, and rookie Rhett Lowder, who starts Sunday.
"You want guys to get a lot of reps now and go into the offseason with a lot of confidence regardless of how we finish," said Martinez, 34, who likely is setting the stage for his own position of strength in the free agent market.
"I think it’s important. Our last game is at the end of the September so pulling the chute shouldn’t really be an option."
Of course, the too-little, too-late part involves their nine-game deficit for the last wild-card playoff spot with 12 to play, even after making up a game on the New York Mets Saturday.
Imagine if they would have combined this kind of pitching with this week's productive hitting all season. Or most of the season. Half of the season? Their nine runs in Saturday's fourth tied a season high for an inning.
Imagine if TJ Friedl had been healthy all year. Four more hits for him Saturday, including his second home run in as many days, made Friedl 8 for his last 9 heading into Sunday's series finale.
Elly De La Cruz delivered his first career grand slam in Friday's win. Jake Fraley had a home run among three hits Saturday, a single and home run coming after he jammed his wrist on a third-inning slide into the plate. Jonathan India reached base three times.
"We’ve got to finish strong," De La Cruz said. "It doesn’t matter where we’re standing, we’ve got to finish strong to come in strong next year."
Imagine if Noelvi Marte's 3-for-9 pace with two walks during the 5-2 run was anything close to that since his return from his steroid suspension, never mind if he hadn't been suspended and performed all season. He had a two-run double during the big fourth on Saturday.
Imagine if Matt McLain had played this season. At all.
At least they can dream of avoiding a losing season if they win eight of their last 12.
"Nobody wants to just stop playing well," Fraley said. "We as a team want do everything well. We want to do it to the best of our ability. I think the character that is in that clubhouse with every person is phenomenal. Everybody's going to continue to come out and give everything they've got.
"Everybody cares. Cares a lot. We care about doing it for the guy next to us. That kind of goes hand in hand with being able to finish the season strong and finish well for the guy next to you."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Too little, too late: Cincinnati Reds surge to another win over Twins day after elimination
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