Lack of Focus and Three-Run Home Run Haunts Homer Bailey in 5-4 Loss

Maybe Yogi Berra said it best,"Ninety percent of the game is half mental."

For the third straight start a three-run home run after a play turned sour, was followed by a fat pitch from Homer Bailey.  For the third time in a row the batter made Bailey pay the price.  Derrek Lee hit a three-run home run for Baltimore that cost Bailey and the Reds after Joey Votto lost an infield fly in the sun.  On Satuday, Paul Janish was called for not having his foot on the base on a sacrifice bunt by Fausto Carmona of Cleveland.  Michael Brantley put a fat pitch into the bullpen and Cleveland made the runs stand up for a win.

"I need to focus in that situation," Bailey admitted after the Cleveland game.

On Thursday, Bailey walked pitcher Chris Narveson, who was sent up to bunt number eight hitter, Jonathan Lucroy to second base.  Rickie Weeks lined a three-run home run to change a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 lead.

The Reds overcame a sacrifice fly by Yuniefsky Betancourt and took a lead.

Bailey doubled to right with one out in the third.  Drew Stubbs singled him to third.  Miguel Cairo, starting at thirdbase singled to tie the game.

Zack Cozart, who made some nice plays in his major league debut at shortstop, scored from first on a single to right center by last night's hero Ramon Hernandez.

Corey Hart scored what proved to be the winning run.  He singled and stole second.  Mark Kotsay single him home with two outs.

LaTroy Hawkins started the eighth for Milwaukee.  Votto and Brandon Phillips singled to put runners on first and third with no out.  Jay Bruce hit a hard smash off Prince Fielder's glove at first and Votto scored as Weeks fielded the ball in time to get Bruce out.

Reminiscent of Opening Day, Hernandez hit a home run off John Axeford to lead off the ninth.  With one out Stubbs walked.  He tried to get in scoring position by stealing.  Milwaukee pitched out and Lucroy gunned Stubbs down.  Cairo appeared to end the with a bloop to right but the ball hit off Weeks' glove to put the tying run on what was ruled a single.  Votto singled but Phillips bounced back to Axeford.

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