Sweet Redemption by Willis and Stubbs Carry Reds to 4-3 Win Over Braves

Dontrelle Willis had two really bad years.  Drew Stubbs has been taking heat from Cincinnati fans about his mounting strike outs.

Both played huge roles in Cincinnati's 4-3 walk-off win over the Atlanta Braves in front of over 33,000 fans and a national broadcast audience.  Stubbs hit the first pitch of the ninth inning into the rightfield stands off Scott Linebrink to give the Reds two straight wins for the first time since sweeping the Dodgers on June 15.

"It's been even longer since we won three in a row," Dusty Baker said.  "We'll try to take care of that tomorrow.

Talk show hosts and fans alike have been howling about sending Stubbs to the minor leagues but he made two catches in the game that saved runs.  Stubbs 13th home run overshadowed his defensive efforts.  The less knowledgeable fans disregard defense.  The home run wouldn't have been the game winner had Stubbs not caught a ball off the bat of Nate McClouth in deep left center with the go ahead run on third base with one out.

"They've been walking off enough on us a whole bunch," Baker said.  "It's our turn to walk off on somebody. Stubbs made a great catch.  He's playing well on both sides of the ball.  He's being aggressive.  Stubbs is a second half (season) player."

Stubbs was not outwardly emotional but stood tall as he described his play.

"It was a pitch out over the plate and I put a good swing on it," Stubbs said.  "I had a couple fly balls to track down.  I missed the ball that (Martin) Prado hit on Friday night. I had to make up for it."

Stubbs made a tough catch look easy against Brian McCann in the sixth inning.  It is a shame fans tend to dwell on his 130 strikeouts.  They have also criticized the 26-year old speedster for not bunting more.  Tonight in front of millions Stubbs two hits and a walk in five plate appearances, scored two runs, stole his 25th base and his speed forced an error.

Willis kept the Atlanta Braves in check through 6 1/3 innings in spite of his finger nails cracking and a tumbling circus play to end the first inning.  Willis, who won't be 30 until January, has been through a period in which strikes were hard to come by.  He nearly made the team out of spring training and would have been brought up earlier but minor injuries upset his plans.   When he struck out Prado in the third, pitching coach Bryan Price and trainer, Steve Bauman came out to check on Willis.

"It was a cracked finger nail," Willis said.  "I've had it before.  It's no big deal.  It came on a strikeout so I hope my finger nails crack all the time."

Willis thanked the Reds for giving him a chance.

"This is for the guys that believe in me," Willis said. "I want to pay homage to them for giving me a chance.  I'm very thankful for the opportunity.  I worked with Ted Power in Louisville.  He's a guru."

The Reds built a quick 3-0 lead Stubbs reached on Prado's error leading off the game against Brandon Beachy.  Stubbs stole second and Brandon Phillips hit his 10th home run of the season.  Miguel Cairo, playing for the injured Scott Rolen hit his fourth home run in the second inning.

The Braves came back.  McCann hit his 18th home run leading off the fourth.  Freddie Freeman doubled, advanced to third on Alex Gonzalez's single.  Freeman scored when Wilkin Ramirez beat a double play relay to first base.

"We jumped on them early then didn't score for awhile," Baker said.  "Dontrelle gave us what we needed."

Willis fanned Ramirez to start the seventh but McClouth singled. Pinch hitter Julio Lugo singled.  Prado ended Willis's night with an RBI single to tie the game.

"I'm pleased with my game," Willis said.  "Brian McCann hit a home run but that's going to happen.  The bottom of their lineup hurt me tonight."

Aroldis Chapman got Jason Heyward to hit into a double play to end the seventh, then pitched a scoreless eighth.

"That was big," Baker said of Chapman's outing.

Francisco Cordero earned his fourth win by stranding a leadoff base runner, Gonzalez at third when he struck out pinch hitter Brooks Conrad to end the ninth.  The whiff followed Stubbs catch.

"You remember that Conrad hit that grand slam off Coco last year to beat us," Baker reminded.  "Coco threw some good pitches.

Since the All-Star break Cordero has a win and two saves in three appearances as he gets redemption from three blown saves that led into the break.

The Reds have closed to within three games of first place.  They are 5-4 since the break.