1996 Cincinnati Reds season

The 1996 Cincinnati Reds season was the 127th season for the franchise in Major League Baseball, and their 27th and 26th full season at Cinergy Field. The Reds failed to improve on their record of 85–59 from 1995 and defend their National League Central title, finishing the season at 81–81 and a third place finish.

Offseason December 7, 1995: Chris Sabo was signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds. January 2, 1996: Eric Davis was signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds. January 9, 1996: Mike Kelly was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Cincinnati Reds for a player to be named later and Chad Fox. The Cincinnati Reds sent Ray King (June 11, 1996) to the Atlanta Braves to complete the trade. January 20, 1996: Vince Coleman signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds.Vince Coleman Statistics Baseball-Reference.com February 26, 1996: Joe Oliver was signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Reds. February 26, 1996: Damon Berryhill was released by the Cincinnati Reds.

Regular season Opening Day (April 1) – Seven pitches into the first game of the season, at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, home plate umpire John McSherry collapses on the field and dies of a massive heart attack.www.baseball-almanac.com Obituary of John McSherry The game between the Reds and Montreal Expos is postponed. Reds owner Marge Schott later comes under fire for wanting the game in Cincinnati to continue despite the tragedy (and against the wishes of the players on both teams), saying that she felt "cheated" when it was canceled. Opening Day lineup

April 1 (game postponed) Vince Coleman, LF Hal Morris, 1B Barry Larkin, SS Reggie Sanders, RF Eddie Taubensee, C Bret Boone, 2B Mike Kelly, CF Jeff Branson, 3B Pete Schourek, P Source:

April 2 Eric Davis, LF Eric Owens, 2B Barry Larkin, SS Reggie Sanders, RF Chris Sabo, 3B Hal Morris, 1B Mike Kelly, CF Joe Oliver, C Pete Schourek, P Source:

Note: the two lineups have multiple differences, as the Expos had scheduled right-hander Pedro Martínez to start on April 1; he was replaced by left-hander Jeff Fassero for the April 2 game.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Game log

|- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || April 1 || Expos || colspan=5 |Postponed (death of umpire John McSherry) Rescheduled for April 2 || 0–0 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 1 || April 2 || Expos || 4–1 || Schourek (1–0) || Fassero || Moore (1) || 53,136 || 1–0 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 2 || April 3 || Expos || 4–8 || Veres || Shaw (0–1) || — || 19,104 || 1–1 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 3 || April 4 || Expos || 2–10 || Paniagua || Burba (0–1) || — || 17,067 || 1–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 4 || April 5 || @ Phillies || 6–5 (10) || Shaw (1–1) || Borland || Moore (2) || 17,318 || 2–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 5 || April 6 || @ Phillies || 8–4 || Salkeld (1–0) || Hunter || — || 17,958 || 3–2 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || April 7 || @ Phillies || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for July 22 || 3–2 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 6 || April 8 || Mets || 7–6 || Schourek (2–0) || Jones || Brantley (1) || 17,623 || 4–2 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 7 || April 9 || Mets || 5–12 || Isringhausen || Smiley (0–1) || Franco || 15,958 || 4–3 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 8 || April 10 || Mets || 9–7 || Pugh (1–0) || Macdonald || Brantley (2) || 16,775 || 5–3 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 9 || April 11 || Astros || 4–9 || Reynolds || Portugal (0–1) || — || 18,946 || 5–4 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 10 || April 12 || Astros || 8–10 (10) || Jones || Moore (0–1) || Tabaka || 24,960 || 5–5 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || April 13 || Astros || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for April 14 || 5–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 11 || April 14 || Astros || 5–3 || Schourek (3–0) || Hampton || Brantley (3) || — || 6–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 12 || April 14 || Astros || 9–8 || Shaw (2–1) || Young || Brantley (4) || 21,552 || 7–5 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 13 || April 15 || @ Cubs || 3–2 (10) || Moore (1–1) || Patterson || Brantley (5) || 20,395 || 8–5 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 14 || April 16 || @ Cubs || 3–6 || Trachsel || Portugal (0–2) || — || 11,464 || 8–6 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 15 || April 17 || @ Cubs || 6–8 (10) || Wendell || Ruffin (0–1) || — || 13,023 || 8–7 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 16 || April 19 || @ Astros || 5–13 || Brocail || Schourek (3–1) || — || 22,728 || 8–8 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 17 || April 20 || @ Astros || 6–1 || Smiley (1–1) || Drabek || — || 34,098 || 9–8 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 18 || April 21 || @ Astros || 5–7 || Jones || Brantley (0–1) || — || 27,845 || 9–9 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 19 || April 22 || @ Mets || 1–5 || Wilson || Portugal (0–3) || — || 14,568 || 9–10 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 20 || April 23 || @ Mets || 6–8 (10) || Henry || Shaw (2–2) || — || 14,357 || 9–11 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 21 || April 24 || @ Expos || 6–7 (10) || Dyer || Moore (1–2) || — || 10,126 || 9–12 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 22 || April 25 || @ Expos || 4–8 || Martinez || Smiley (1–2) || — || 13,067 || 9–13 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 23 || April 26 || Phillies || 0–2 || Grace || Burba (0–2) || Bottalico || 21,842 || 9–14 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 24 || April 27 || Phillies || 2–3 || Leiper || Portugal (0–4) || Bottalico || 22,555 || 9–15 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || April 28 || Phillies || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for June 25 || 9–15 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 25 || April 30 || Pirates || 7–10 || Neagle || Smiley (1–3) || Cordova || 16,243 || 9–16

|- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 26 || May 1 || Pirates || 3–4 || Hope || Burba (0–3) || Plesac || 18,197 || 9–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 27 || May 3 || @ Giants || 5–3 || McElroy (1–0) || Creek || Brantley (6) || 12,884 || 10–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 28 || May 4 || @ Giants || 9–7 || Moore (2–2) || Leiter || Brantley (7) || 18,989 || 11–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 29 || May 5 || @ Giants || 12–6 || Smiley (2–3) || VanLandingham || — || 18,052 || 12–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 30 || May 7 || Dodgers || 3–2 (12) || Moore (3–2) || Worrell || — || 18,147 || 13–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 31 || May 8 || Dodgers || 5–0 || Schourek (4–1) || Park || Shaw (1) || 17,820 || 14–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 32 || May 10 || Padres || 8–6 || McElroy (2–0) || Florie || Brantley (8) || 22,508 || 15–17 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 33 || May 11 || Padres || 1–0 || Smiley (3–3) || Hamilton || Brantley (9) || 24,983 || 16–17 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 34 || May 12 || Padres || 0–5 || Tewksbury || Burba (0–4) || — || 22,786 || 16–18 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 35 || May 14 || Rockies || 3–5 || Reed || Schourek (4–2) || Ruffin || 20,535 || 16–19 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || May 15 || Rockies || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for August 17 || 16–19 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 36 || May 17 || @ Braves || 2–8 || Maddux || Smiley (3–4) || — || 40,612 || 16–20 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 37 || May 18 || @ Braves || 1–2 || Clontz || Ruffin (0–2) || Wohlers || 49,553 || 16–21 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 38 || May 19 || @ Braves || 5–9 || Smoltz || Schourek (4–3) || Wohlers || 41,153 || 16–22 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 39 || May 20 || Marlins || 3–5 || Rapp || Burba (0–5) || Nen || 18,023 || 16–23 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 40 || May 21 || Marlins || 2–3 || Weathers || Salkeld (1–1) || Mathews || 19,534 || 16–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 41 || May 22 || Marlins || 4–1 || Smiley (4–4) || Leiter || Brantley (10) || 22,055 || 17–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 42 || May 23 || @ Rockies || 7–5 || Carrasco (1–0) || Ruffin || Brantley (11) || 48,040 || 18–24 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 43 || May 24 || @ Rockies || 11–9 || Ruffin (1–2) || Thompson || — || 48,019 || 19–24 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 44 || May 25 || @ Rockies || 5–7 || Leskanic || Moore (3–3) || — || 48,012 || 19–25 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || May 26 || @ Rockies || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for August 29 || 19–25 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 45 || May 27 || @ Marlins || 2–6 || Leiter || Smiley (4–5) || — || 15,919 || 19–26 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 46 || May 28 || @ Marlins || 2–6 || Brown || Burba (0–6) || Mathews || 14,052 || 19–27 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || May 29 || @ Marlins || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for August 23 || 19–27 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 47 || May 31 || Braves || 1–9 || Avery || Schourek (4–4) || — || 33,455 || 19–28

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 48 || June 1 || Braves || 3–2 || Portugal (1–4) || Maddux || Brantley (12) || 34,023 || 20–28 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 49 || June 2 || Braves || 2–6 || Glavine || Smiley (4–6) || — || 23,482 || 20–29 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 50 || June 3 || Giants || 3–6 || VanLandingham || Burba (0–7) || — || 20,028 || 20–30 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 51 || June 4 || Giants || 4–1 || Salkeld (2–1) || Watson || Brantley (13) || 28,549 || 21–30 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 52 || June 5 || Giants || 4–15 || Gardner || Jarvis (0–1) || — || 21,881 || 21–31 |- style="text-align:center; background:#bbb;" | || June 6 || Giants || colspan=5 |Postponed (rain) Rescheduled for September 6 || 21–31 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 53 || June 7 || @ Dodgers || 2–1 || Smiley (5–6) || Valdez || Brantley (14) || 35,197 || 22–31 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 54 || June 8 || @ Dodgers || 4–5 (10) || Worrell || Carrasco (1–1) || — || 44,575 || 22–32 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 55 || June 9 || @ Dodgers || 2–3 || Nomo || Smith (0–1) || Worrell || 47,847 || 22–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 56 || June 10 || @ Padres || 6–3 || Smith (1–1) || Bochtler || Brantley (15) || 41,120 || 23–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 57 || June 11 || @ Padres || 4–1 || Jarvis (1–1) || Valenzuela || Brantley (16) || 12,029 || 24–33 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 58 || June 12 || @ Padres || 9–4 || Smiley (6–6) || Florie || — || 11,411 || 25–33 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 59 || June 14 || Expos || 1–6 || Martinez || Portugal (1–5) || — || 26,691 || 25–34 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 60 || June 15 || Expos || 5–6 || Rueter || Burba (0–8) || Rojas || 32,833 || 25–35 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 61 || June 16 || Expos || 7–0 || Salkeld (3–1) || Cormier || — || 25,657 || 26–35 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 62 || June 17 || @ Astros || 4–5 || Young || Shaw (2–3) || Jones || 24,977 || 26–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 63 || June 18 || @ Astros || 6–4 (10) || Brantley (1–1) || Hernandez || — || 20,505 || 27–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 64 || June 19 || @ Astros || 10–7 || Portugal (2–5) || Hampton || Brantley (17) || 38,218 || 28–36 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 65 || June 20 || @ Mets || 5–3 || Burba (1–8) || Jones || Shaw (2) || 16,994 || 29–36 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 66 || June 21 || @ Mets || 4–9 || Dipoto || Salkeld (3–2) || Mlicki || 19,432 || 29–37 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 67 || June 22 || @ Mets || 2–5 || Clark || Schourek (4–5) || Franco || 24,589 || 29–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 68 || June 23 || @ Mets || 2–1 || Smiley (7–6) || Person || Brantley (18) || 18,593 || 30–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 69 || June 24 || Phillies || 7–0 || Portugal (3–5) || Schilling || — || 20,835 || 31–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 70 || June 25 || Phillies || 9–1 || Burba (2–8) || Quirico || — || — || 32–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 71 || June 25 || Phillies || 3–1 || Jarvis (2–1) || Mimbs || Smith (1) || 23,369 || 33–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 72 || June 26 || Phillies || 4–2 || Salkeld (4–2) || Williams || Brantley (19) || 32,286 || 34–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 73 || June 28 || Cubs || 7–4 || Smiley (8–6) || Castillo || Smith (2) || 27,864 || 35–38 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 74 || June 29 || Cubs || 9–5 || Portugal (4–5) || Bullinger || — || 32,273 || 36–38 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 75 || June 30 || Cubs || 0–6 || Trachsel || Burba (2–9) || — || 30,352 || 36–39

|- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 76 || July 1 || @ Cardinals || 8–5 || Carrasco (2–1) || Benes || Brantley (20) || 27,221 || 37–39 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 77 || July 2 || @ Cardinals || 3–4 || Honeycutt || Smith (1–2) || Eckersley || 29,074 || 37–40 |- bgcolor="ffbbbb" | 78 || July 3 || @ Cardinals || 0–4 || Osborne || Smiley (8–7) || — || 32,658 || 37–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc" | 79 || July 4 || @ Cubs || 2–1 || Portugal (5–5) || Bullinger || Brantley (21) || 38,047 || 38–41 |- bgcolor="ccffcc"