Luis Cessa leads two-hitter as Cincinnati Reds earn shutout win over St. Louis Cardinals

ST. LOUIS – Luis Cessa moved into the Cincinnati Reds’ starting rotation out of necessity because of injuries, and he’s making a case he should remain there when those injured pitchers return.

Graham Ashcraft is scheduled to make his final Triple-A rehab start on Monday and Connor Overton pitched five innings in a rehab start Sunday, so the Reds have rotation decisions to make within the next week.

Cessa’s latest audition: He pitched five scoreless innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday, permitting one hit, and the Reds earned a 3-0 victory in the series finale at Busch Stadium. In his last five starts, he’s allowed two or fewer runs in four of them.

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"The fact that he was able to transition into being a starter and do it this effectively late in the season, not many guys can do that," Reds Manager David Bell said. "It says a lot about Luis, his willingness, but also just how good he is. He has really good stuff. There is no question we would consider anything for next year, including being a starter."

The Reds won two of the five games in the weekend series, which had a playoff-like atmosphere with the sold-out crowds, and they completed the season with a 7-12 record against the division leader. They need to win five of their final 15 games to avoid the second 100-loss season in franchise history.

Dating back to Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader, the Reds' pitching staff didn't allow an earned run over the final 24 innings of the series.

"We came in with a lot of innings to cover," Bell said. "We didn’t just survive it, we actually really thrived."

Cessa totaled only one strikeout and he didn’t throw a ton of first-pitch strikes, but he let his infield do the work by inducing ground balls.

After Cessa issued a one-out walk in the third inning, he induced three potential double plays in a row. Shortstop Jose Barrero misplayed the first one, though it was ruled a hit, as the ball bounced over his glove into left field. Second baseman Matt Reynolds misplayed the second one, bobbling a potential flip to second base and his throw to first base was too late.

Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson made a mound visit with the bases loaded and one out. Facing Corey Dickerson, Cessa responded by forcing another double-play grounder on the next pitch, the third one successfully turned, to end the inning.

"Nobody wants to make an error, but it’s tough because you want to finish the inning with that play and they don’t make it," Cessa said. "Maybe next ground ball it’s going to go to the same guy and he’ll make a diving catch or a really good catch. I think the team looks at me, like, let’s go, I’ll get you back. I just try to make my pitch."

Cessa retired his final seven batters, exiting at 75 pitches. Since joining the rotation, he owns a 3.95 ERA through 27 1/3 innings. His goal, he said, is to remain in the rotation next year.

He's completely revamped his routine and his conditioning, so he's more equipped to pitch deeper into games. Plus, he proved he could handle a loud environment, pitching Sunday in front of 47,909 fans, the sixth-largest crowd since Busch Stadium III opened in 2006. There were long lines outside the stadium’s gates at 10:30 a.m. for the day game, a chance to watch Albert Pujols’ chase for 700 homers before the Cardinals begin an eight-game road trip and there was a Pujols bobblehead giveaway.

Pujols, who draws standing ovations each time he comes to the plate, went hitless in his four at-bats via two groundouts and two infield pop-outs.

"I want to see him get 700 homers," Cessa said, "but not today, not on me."

Stuart Fairchild knocked Cardinals starter Jordan Montgomery out of the game with a two-run homer in the sixth inning, powering a first-pitch sinker over the center-field wall. Fairchild has 13 hits this season and five home runs.

Montgomery, an addition at the trade deadline, allowed seven hits and three runs across 5 1/3 innings while striking out nine.

"Third time seeing a pitcher, you get a better idea of what the pitches look like," Fairchild said. "I’d seen his fastball a bunch earlier in the game. My plan was to be ready for a fastball and he threw me one right down the middle."

The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Barrero snapped a 0-for-14 stretch with a one-out single to left field, moved to second after a walk and he scored on Spencer Steer’s RBI single up the middle.

Barrero chatted with Pujols outside of the Cardinals’ clubhouse before Sunday’s game, a chance to talk hitting with the future Hall of Famer. Pujols, a mentor to many Latino players, gifted Barrero one of his bats after their chat. The two both smiled during their conversation at first base after Barrero’s single, his first of two hits on the afternoon.

After Monday's off day, the Reds will play a two-game series against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Luis Cessa leads two-hitter as Reds earn shutout win over Cardinals