This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/athletics as A's Get Boost From Unlikely Source Against Cincinnati Reds.

On a night the New York Mets lost, the Cincinnati Reds went 0-for-12 with men in scoring position to get shut out for the 12th time.

The Cincinnati Reds are two games behind the playoff field with 16 games remaining as they head into Thursday's off day.

Cincinnati Reds Top Prospect Has Huge Game for Chattanooga Lookouts. Cincinnati Reds sixth-ranked prospect Cam Collier had a monster game on Friday night with Double-A Chattanooga.

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Elly De La Cruz has struggled much of the second half this season. But that didn't stop the Cincinnati Reds shortstop from making history again Sept. 12 against the Athletics on the west coast. After his second-inning single put runners at the corners in the third inning, De La Cruz stole second.

The Reds have their swagger back in the chase for the final wild-card spot after winning four of their last six.

With Soderstrom out of the lineup on Friday night against Reds righty Brady Singer, the A's will be sending 28-year-old rookie Carlos Cortes into left, batting eighth. Cortes hasn't been in the starting lineup much this month, generally coming in as a pinch-hitter where has gone 2-for-5 (.400) with his first career home run and three RBI.

The Cincinnati Reds face the A's this weekend at the home team's temporary ballpark, Triple-A Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California.

Chase Burns, the Cincinnati Reds' hard-throwing rookie starter, returns Friday from four weeks sidelined by a Grade 1 flexor strain near his elbow.

The Cincinnati Reds look to rebound from a night of missed opportunities when they face the Athletics in the middle contest of a three-game series on Saturday night at West Sacramento, Calif.

These Walnut Hills gardens are an addition to a growing conservation mission by the Zoo and the Reds to revamp communities in need.