Barrero continues breakout with 1st career slam

BOSTON -- Shortly after 9 p.m. on Tuesday, No. 1 Reds prospect Elly De La Cruz crushed a two-run walk-off homer in Louisville, Ky., against the Red Sox’s Triple-A affiliate Worcester.

Twenty minutes later and 820 miles away, Jose Barrero gave the Reds a big cushion with a grand slam that ricocheted off a light pole above the Green Monster in Cincinnati’s 9-8 win over Boston at Fenway Park.

“That was like a video game home run,” said Will Benson, who went 3-for-5 with his first career triple.

Entering the series opener, Benson had just two hits in 12 games this season. The outfielder’s three hits and three runs scored were both career highs, joining Barrero, who also notched a career-high four RBIs.

So while Reds fans await the callup of De La Cruz, ranked the No. 4 prospect in the Majors by MLB Pipeline, there’s still plenty to be excited about.

Barrero didn’t enter the game until the fourth inning, when he replaced TJ Friedl, who exited with left hamstring tightness after legging it out to first on a fielder’s choice in the second. Barrero walked in his first plate appearance before crushing a 2-0 sinker from Red Sox reliever Joely Rodríguez for his first career slam.

“Very happy. 100 percent that was a great home run. It was my first grand slam and my first time here in Fenway, too, so it was a really great experience,” Barrero said through translator Jorge Merlos. “But the most important thing is that the team won.”

Barrero played 209 innings at shortstop this season before the Reds called up Matt McLain, their No. 5 prospect, on May 15. McLain, who was named the NL Player of the Week on Tuesday, figures to be a mainstay in Cincinnati’s infield for the foreseeable future.

In the outfield, however, the Reds have much less depth. Just three of their top 20 prospects are outfielders -- Jay Allen II (No. 12), Rece Hinds (No. 17) and Ariel Almonte (No. 20) -- with none having played above Double-A, and two of their big league outfield options are on the injured list: Wil Myers (left shoulder sprain) and Henry Ramos (right hip strain).

“[Barrero is] a big part of our team,” manager David Bell said. “Even though he’s not starting every game, there’s opportunities coming off the bench, there’s starts that he’s had and will continue to get. He just has to stay ready. That’s his job, and he has a great attitude toward that and that helps you play better when you do get your opportunity.”

Barrero showed his outfield value by starting a relay in the fifth that ended up being a crucial out. Red Sox outfielder Raimel Tapia smoked a 103.5 mph double to center which Barrero retrieved and threw at 91.2 mph to McLain, who then fired the ball at 86.5 mph to catcher Tyler Stephenson to get Kiké Hernández at the plate.

“It’s amazing how every little thing matters,” Bell said. “You ended up getting a one-run game and a play like that, you just never know what would have happened if that wasn’t executed like it was. And [Barrero] was a big part of that.”

Reds starter Ben Lively followed up his first win as a starter since 2017 with another strong start, holding Boston’s offense to just two hits and zero runs over his 5 2/3-inning outing. Cincinnati relievers then allowed eight runs -- including a three-run seventh charged to Fernando Cruz and five runs surrendered by Eduardo Salazar in the ninth -- leading the Reds to call on closer Alexis Díaz to record the final two outs for his 13th save.

“It’s a good team, you never relax,” Bell said. “You give them credit for fighting their way back into the game. Sometimes you’re not able to hold onto a game like that. So for us to be able to hold on right there, Alexis did a great job, he got ready fast. Came right in and that’s not an easy situation to come in, especially with the momentum having shifted that much.”

With their win in Boston and Milwaukee’s loss in Toronto, the Reds moved to three games back of the NL Central-leading Brewers.

“It’s dope,” Benson said. “The energy is at an all-time high. From what I’ve heard, it wasn’t like that last year. So to be able to be part of that is cool, and it feels like something really special is going on.”