CINCINNATI -- For the first time in 2020, the Reds played extra innings and got to experience the new rule that opens each half-inning with a runner placed on second base. It wound up playing right into Cincinnati's hands.\n\nSpeedy Nick Senzel, who made the last out of the ninth inning, opened the 10th on second base with the best portion of the lineup to follow. It didn't take long to break through. After Nick Castellanos' leadoff walk,
Lucas Sims pitched a scoreless top of the 10th inning with a two-out walk for the win.\n\nHere are three takeaways from the victory.\n\n**Votto happy, but also not happy** \nIn the top of the third inning, Luis Castillo was pitching with a 2-0 lead, but back-to-back errors by third baseman Eugenio Suárez and Votto at first base led to a bases-loaded rally and an unearned run scoring on Ryan O'Hearn's RBI single off the left-field wall. A nice play on the carom and a quick throw by
But redemption certainly came in the 10th, when Votto connected on reliever Josh Staumont's first-pitch sinker. The ball, which Statcast recorded leaving the bat at 101 mph, nearly carried over the fence and was almost caught by center fielder Brett Phillips.\n\n\"I thought it’d be a homer, but I’m very happy about it,\" Votto said. \"It was one of my best swings in years. I was ecstatic about it that I came through that moment -- yes, of course, that’s great and that’s what we are trying to do collectively -- but I was really happy with the swing, like really, really, really happy with the swing. It was good. I was very happy about where it landed specifically.\"\n\nReds players couldn't contain themselves to follow social distance guidelines, but Winker was on hand with hand sanitizer.\n\n\"I think we broke a lot of rules,\" Votto said. \"It was just instinct and we were happy. That’s exactly how it should be, right?\"
**Farmer's defense was big**
Before this season, Farmer had logged just one Major League inning at shortstop and 10 games there in the Minors. But the utility player spent 211 games there while at the University of Georgia, and he reminded manager David Bell he could play there. Bell obliged and was impressed enough to make Farmer -- who can play every infield spot and catcher -- the primary backup to Freddy Galvis.\n\n\"It just feels comfortable. I feel at home,\" Farmer said of playing shortstop. \"I’ve been playing there since I was freaking four years old. It’s fun. It makes it fun for me to go out there and play short, and it’s been a dream of mine forever.\"
\n\n \n\nFarmer started for Galvis on Tuesday and made the defensive play of the game. Reliever Nate Jones had the bases loaded and a 5-3 lead when O'Hearn zipped a hot grounder at 102.8 mph to Farmer up the middle. Farmer backhanded the ball on one hop from his knees, touched second base and fired to first base for the inning-ending double play.\n\n“I’ve played against O’Hearn since rookie ball,\" Farmer said. \"I knew he hits the ball hard every time. Luckily, I’ve got a good coach in Freddie \\[Benevides\\] and Bop \\[Delino DeShields\\] hitting me ground balls. I’ve done that play a bunch of times. I was fortunate enough that it didn’t hit a speck of dirt or anything and bounced on the way. That just comes with practice and preparation.”
**Winker on a tear**
Winker reached base three times and joined Matt Davidson for back-to-back home runs in the third inning. In his past seven games, he is batting .579 (11-for-19) with two homers, two doubles and three RBIs to raise his batting average from .087 to .310.