CINCINNATI (WKRC) - Ideally the Cincinnati Reds would have a fully-healthy and offensively-potent lineup on the field for a late season push to the playoffs. But that was not the case for Saturday's game against the Washington Nationals.

When Joey Votto was a late scratch with left knee soreness, manager David Bell turned to Tyler Stephenson to play first. As a result, he fielded a starting nine with five rookies. Alongside Stephenson, Jonathan India started at second, Max Schrock in left field, TJ Friedl in center and Vladimir Gutierrez was on the hill.

According to Reds statistician Joel Luckhaupt, it's the first time since Sept. 20 of 2008 that the team has put five rookies in the starting lineup. On that day, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Ryan Hanigan, Paul Janish and Johnny Cueto faced the Milwaukee Brewers in a winning effort.

The Houston Colt 45s fielded a team of all rookies twice during the 1963 season -- once on Sept. 27 and again two days later. The second baseman for that team was future MLB Hall of Famer Joe Morgan.