Votto's Bat Wasted in Another Late Inning Win By Atlanta, 6-4

The National League leader in batting average and home runs did not disappoint the standing-room-only crowd at Great American Ball Park but Francisco Cordero could not complete his second inning and the Braves.

Joey Votto had three hits in four tries, including his 27th home run, and his 71st and 72nd RBI to raise his average to .327.

Scott Rolen had a pair of hits and a run batted in.  Rolen doubled following Votto's eighth inning home run with a double.  He took a chance and advanced to third on a shallow fly to right to put the winning run on thirdbase with one out.  Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs could not get him in however.

"Jay is just over anxious," Baker said.  "We had chances to win before Cordero came in.  Jay needs to be more patient and get a better pitch to hit.  We played a good game and came up short."

Johnny Cueto came into his start with victories for his last four decisions.  He had allowed just five earned runs in his last four starts but floundered against the Braves.

He allowed 10 hits and never had a 1-2-3 inning before being removed with one out in the sixth, trailing 4-3.  He hit opposing pitcher, Kris Medlen to load the bases with no one out in the sixth.  He got Votto's closet pursuer for the batting title, Martin Prado to hit into a force, that was nearly a double play.  Bill Bray worked out of the jam with no further damage.

Medlen left the game with a right forearm contusion.

Votto's lead off home run tied the game in the eighth.

The Reds bullpen was masterful again.  Logan Ondrusek, Nick Masset, Arthur Rhodes and Francisco Cordero kept Atlanta off the board into the ninth.  Cordero got a chance to face pinch hitter, Brooks Conrad again.

Conrad hit a grand slam off Cordero to beat the Reds on May 20, a game in which the same Reds bullpen squandered a 9-3 ninth inning lead.  The home run ball grazed off Lance Nix's glove to leak out of the park.

To allow Cordero into the game, Dusty Baker, made a double switch.  Chris Heisey replaced Bruce in right.  To thwart Deja Vue, Heisey robbed Conrad this time.  He timed his leap and caught the ball to end the ninth.

Heisey singled in his at bat with one out and advanced to second but the Reds failed to plate him, taking the game to extra innings.

Baker was asked if he thought of using Heisey to bat for Bruce with a lefthander on the mound.

"No, I needed Heisey for later,"  Baker said.  "Bruce has been hitting lefthanders better. (Bruce is hitting .250 against lefties and Heisey .163).  Besides you want to build confidence there.  You don't want to sub one young guy for another."

Cordero continued.  He walked Melky Cabrera and Prado in between outs.  Jason Heyward worked the count to 3-2 and dumped a blooper in front of a diving Jonny Gomes.  Gomes deflected the ball toward right center both runners scored with the jump from a full count.

Heyward a rookie had a better approach than Bruce.

"I had a good idea of what I wanted to do.  Just be patient and not try to do to much.  He threw me a good pitch before the hit.  It was a good 3-2 pitch and I just got a piece of it."

Billy Wagner took the mound for Atlanta.  He struck Votto out but Rolen hit his second double and Gomes was hit by a pitch.  Pinch hitter, Miguel Cairo, flied out to deep center.  Stubbs fouled off a 3-2 pitch then struck out swinging.

"We played a good game," Baker said.  "We just came up short."

The Reds have played the Braves three times this season.  The Braves have won all three in their last at bat, two in extra innings.