Reds Pull Off One of MLB’s Rarest Feats With No-Hit Loss

Just when it appeared the Reds couldn’t sink any lower, they managed to find a historically bizarre way to lose.

On Sunday, the Reds didn’t allow a single hit against the Pirates — and still lost. 

Cincinnati managed to spoil a breakout performance by rookie starter Hunter Greene, who struck out a career-high nine batters in 7 1/3 hitless innings — only to watch as Pittsburgh scored the lone run of the game on a fielder’s choice.

It’s just the sixth time since 1900 that a team lost without giving up a hit — adding another dubious chapter to an already wasted season in Cincinnati. 

• The Reds (9-26) got off to their worst start in franchise history (3-22) and are already 13 games behind the first-place Brewers in the NL Central.
• The Reds are on pace to match the 1962 Mets for most losses in a season (120).
• Cincinnati has spent very little on the field — it has the 10th-lowest payroll ($116.5M) in the majors.

Greene has been the lone bright spot for the struggling Reds. The 2017 No. 2 pick — who earned a then-record $7.23 million signing bonus, more than the $7.19 million allotted for that draft spot — averaged 98.9 mph on his 51 fastballs in only his seventh start. 

But beyond him, the Reds are abysmal on both sides of the ball, with an MLB-worst minus-65 run differential.

It’s all about the future for the Reds, who haven’t won the World Series since 1990 — but if they don’t level up their on-field investment, they’ll be waiting for a long time.