Mike Leake and Francisco Cordero Fail to Protect Leds in 7-5 Loss to Milwaukee

The struggling Reds are not in synch, according to Dusty Baker. When the Reds hit they don't pitch.  When they pitch they don't hit. Last night it was the former for the team that has not won two straight games in nearly three weeks, suffering debilitating losses and even a disturbing win or two along the way.
Friday night was one of those losses.  The Reds have had a lot of tough losses.  Mostly from failures in clutch situations but mixed in have been some bad luck.

Luck can't be blamed for Cordero's problems in the ninth.  He needed to protect a two-run lead and created a problem by walking George Kottaras, who was in the ninth spot in the order.  Cordero fell behind Rickie Weeks, who had an inside-the-park home run and an RBI double.  Weeks swung at a 3-0 pitch and missed it.  He flied out later.  Cordero went through a period last season in which he walked a lot of hitters.  He has been much better this year.  The former Brewer closer had a couple one-run saves blown by a home run ball, including his last appearance on Wednesday night.  This time wildness plagued him.  The threw a wild pitch while Nyjer Morgan was at the plate.  Morgan hit a triple.  Corey Hart hit a ground ball to Zack Cozart at shortstop. Cozart threw low and wide but Ryan Hanigan backhanded the throw and took the blow, while recording the out.

It looked like Cordero would wiggle out of trouble but he had to face Prince Fielder as the winning run.

Cordero got ahead but walked the Brewer's firstbaseman.  Cordero faced Casey McGhee with the winning run on base.  Cordero made his pitch.  McGhee hit a dribbler off the end of the bat that Scott Rolen charged.  The throw was late.

Mark Kotsay, who is playing in place of Ryan Braun, singled to end the game.

The Reds had built a 4-0 lead off Zach Greinke.  Joey Votto hit a first inning home run.  Brandon Phillips doubled and scored on a single by Jay Bruce.  The Reds loaded the bases in the fourth and scored a pair of runs on Rolen's two-out clutch single.

Mike Leake couldn't hold it.

Weeks hit his inside-the-park home run in the fourth.  The Brewers scored three in the fifth to get even. Greinke started the rally with a single.

Kotsay put the Brewers ahead with a solo home run off Leake in the sixth.

The Reds took the lead back.

Cozart singled.  Votto hit a double on a ball that eluded Kotsay in left field allowing Votto to reach third.  Phillips sacrifice fly delivered Votto with the go ahead run.  Jay Bruce hit his 20th home run to give the Reds the lead that Cordero couldn't hold.

The Reds are four games out an two games below .500 for the first time since last April 27th.