Reds lose another game, another pitcher in Chicago on winless trip

The Reds were in first place when the trip began. The four-game sweep at the hands of the Cubs dropped them into last place in the National League Central, six games behind the now-first-place Cubs.

Far worse is the state of pitching staff that won't have ace Greene until the second half of the season after he underwent elbow surgery to remove bone chips in March. Williamson, who's on the IL with "shoulder fatigue" in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, was just transferred to the 60-day IL to make roster room for bullpen addition Tejay Antone.

And just as they get No. 2 starter Lodolo back Friday from a blister issue that has sidelined him all season, they get the wind knocked out of those sails by the Lowder loss.

Lowder, whose previous start was the worst of his 14-start career (1 1/3 innings, 8 runs), trailed 1-0 when he walked the first two batters of the fourth inning and then threw a first-pitch ball to Michael Busch and stopped.

Catcher Tyler Stephenson quickly visited the mound, with the manager and trainer following close behind.

By the time his struggling replacement, Connor Phillips, was done so were the Reds in this game – seven runs having crossed the plate in the inning.

The Reds are expected to learn more about the severity of the injury when they return home Friday and have Lowder re-examined. But what's certain is the rookie won't be rushed back from any level of injury, especially after he missed all of last season with forearm and oblique injuries.

The Reds' seven-game losing streak is their longest since an eight-gamer about this time of the season in 2024.

And their winless road trip was their first since going 0-6 in Colorado and Milwaukee April 29 to May 5 -- which followed an 0-7 run through Los Angeles and San Diego April 14-20 the same season.

Reds manager Terry Francona and pitcher Rhett Lowder head to the dugout after Lowder had to leave the game against the Chicago Cubs with shoulder discomfort May 7.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds lose Rhett Lowder, another game in Chicago on winless trip