Reds Closer Emilio Pagán Injures Hamstring After One Pitch in Loss to Cubs

Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán crumpled to the ground with an injury after throwing just one pitch Tuesday night.

Pagán was on the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning during the Reds' 3-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. He fired an 87 mph cutter to second baseman Nico Hoerner, then immediately started hopping off the mound while clutching the back of his left leg.

Pagán took a couple more awkward hops before dropping to the ground. He grabbed his left hamstring with both hands. Trainers helped him to his feet, but he could not bear weight on the leg. They eventually carted him off the field.

"He is such an integral part of what we do," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "He's struggling right now, and we've got to be there for him."

Reliever Jose Franco came in for Pagán. He walked Hoerner but escaped the inning without further damage. The game went to extra innings tied at 2-2. The Reds lost it in the 10th.

Pagán had dealt with the same hamstring on the final pitch of the Reds' 2-1 win over the San Francisco Giants last month. He said the next day it was not as bad as he first thought.

Francona said Pagán had not felt the hamstring issue since then.

"I just went and saw him," Francona said. "He said he hadn't felt it. He said he warmed up fine. He goes, ‘I would never do that.’ I believe him."

Pagán played a big role in the Reds' success last season. In 70 games, he notched 32 saves and a 2.88 ERA. The 34-year-old has struggled more this year.

In 15 games, Pagán owns a 6.43 ERA, six saves and three blown saves.

The Reds (20-16) seek their first win in a four-game series against the Cubs (24-12) on Wednesday at 7:40 p.m. ET.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.