Reds Lose Another Long One to Braves 7-6 in 11 Innings

The Reds big comeback merely extended the long road trip.

The Reds played 19 innings in Philadelphia and Carlos Fisher had to tough out 5 2/3 innings and took the hard luck loss. 

Two double play balls, including Drew Stubbs with one out and runners on first and second in the 12th caused a tired Fisher to go back to work.  His control left him.  Fisher battled Jordan Schafer to 3-2 and walked him after Schafer fouled off two pitches.  Martin Prado fouled off a bunt attempt but also worked a walk.  Chipper Jones found the hole between first and second with a hard ground ball.

While the Braves walked off the Reds limped off, having dropped its seventh game of this marathon road trip.  The Reds raggedy bullpen had to cover nine innings because Bronson Arroyo had another short outing.

Arroyo lasted just three innings. 

The Reds ace walked Jones with two outs and the bases empty in the first inning.  Singles by the red hot Brian McCann and Erick Hinske put the Braves up a marker.

The Reds loaded the bases in the first but Jay Bruce, who has been a clutch hitter in the first eight games of the road trip, bounced into a double play.

Atlanta scored two more off Arroyo in the second inning and solo home runs by McCann and Freddie Freeman in the third put the Braves up by five.

The plucky Reds loaded the bases again in the third inning too but this time Bruce again allowed Atlanta starter, Derek Lowe escape the inning by grounding out to Freeman at firstbase.

The fourth inning was a different story.

Jonny Gomes singled to start the inning, his first of four hits.  Edgar Renteria walked.  Ryan Hanigan struck out on a foul tip.  Dusty Baker went to his bench.  Miguel Cairo pinch hit to end Arroyo's stint and poked a single to center field to load the bases.  Stubbs cleared the bases with a double, the second of his three hits.  Brandon Phillips doubled and scored a delayed run when a line single by Joey Votto barely eluded shortstop Alex Gonzalez.  Phillips thought Gonzalez caught the ball and who could blame him with the luck his team's been having.

Jeremy Horst, called up this afternoon, to help the tired bullpen made his major league debut.  The Wyoming native and North Dakota resident, struck out the first batter he faced and two of the three in the inning.



Jeremy Horst Debuts



In his first major league at bat, Horst singled home Gomes who led off with a double and was still on second with two outs.

The rookie couldn't hold the lead because McCann hit a long home run, his second of the game.  Horst gave Baker and the Reds 2 2/3 innings, allowed two hits and struck out four.

Jose Arredondo stranded Brave pinch hitter, Wilkin Ramirez who doubled off Horst, by getting Prado to fly out to center field.

Horst Singles in First At Bat

Bill Bray, Logan Ondrusek and Nick Masset matched zeroes with Scott Procter, Johnny Venters of Pikeville, KY and Craig Kimbrel.

Scott Linebrink pitched two innings to get the win.


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