Reds look to stay hot against scuffling Twins

The Cincinnati Reds believe they are starting to play to their potential.

Following a successful road trip through Cleveland and Detroit, the Reds return home Tuesday to host the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a three-game series.

The Reds have won seven of nine, including consecutive series wins against Arizona, Cleveland and Detroit. Minnesota has dropped four straight and is heading in the opposite direction, swept in all three games in Houston over the weekend and losers in eight of 10 games.

On Sunday, the Reds rallied from a 4-2 deficit by scoring four in the eighth inning and two in the ninth for an 8-4 win, their first win in 30 tries this season when trailing after seven innings.

Sunday's win preceded a day off Monday to savor taking two of three from a Tigers team that entered the weekend with the best record in baseball.

"We get a nice day off. Guys deserve it, they need it, then we'll get ready to play and see if we can play, play another play good game," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "That's what we always do."

Elly De La Cruz has been Cincinnati's hottest hitter, hitting a home run in each of his last four games, giving him 16 for the season. On Sunday, he served as the designated hitter, getting a rest from his customary shortstop position.

"I found out a good way to really (upset him). I told him, 'I still think you'd make a good DH.' I think I heard some Spanish curse words," Francona joked.

The Reds will send left-hander Andrew Abbott (6-1, 1.87 ERA) to the mound in the opener, coming off his first career complete game, a three-hit shutout of the Guardians last Tuesday in Cleveland.

Abbott threw 110 pitches in the shutout and will be making his 12th start of the season and first of his career against Minnesota.

The Twins counter with right-hander David Festa (1-1, 4.76), making his sixth start.

In his last start on Wednesday against Texas, Festa earned his first win of the season in Minnesota's 6-2 victory, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings. He issued two walks and struck out four to record his second career quality start.

Festa will make his second career start against the Reds, with his first on Sept. 15, 2024, at Minnesota. Festa registered a no-decision in Minnesota's 9-2 win, allowing two runs on three hits, with three walks and four strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings.

Minnesota dropped a 2-1 decision in 10 innings on Sunday in Houston, extending their skid to four games.

During an offensive drought in June, Brooks Lee has been one of Minnesota's few bright spots. He homered as part of a 3-for-4 effort that extended the longest active hitting streak in the majors to 15 games.

Lee's home run in the third inning was all the offense Minnesota could muster in the loss.

"I think he's doing a good job of hunting some pitches and being prepared going into his at-bats," Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said of Lee. "And we've talked about him last year compared to this year. He's grown a lot and continues to get better.

"Every week you kind of see him doing different things out there on the field. He's not just going up there looking for the ball -- see it, hit it and attacking everything."