Aroldis Chapman Rebounds With An Exciting Win Over Braves

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For the third day in a row, Aroldis Chapman entered a tie game in the ninth inning.  After two failures, victory smiled on the native Cuban in a 4-3 win..

Brayan Pena's third hit of the game in the bottom of ninth after Chapman pitched a scoreless top half.  Michael Lorenzen ran for Pena.  Pinch hitter Devin Mesoraco jumped on Jason Grilli's first pitch and lined it into the leftfield corner as former centerfielder and present starting pitcher raced around the bases and slide home with the winning run.

It was the first time in his career that Mesoraco had a game-winning, walk off hit. A hip problem has prevented Mesoraco from squatting, essential for a catcher but it does not affect him when he runs or swings the bat.

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"Devin is a potent bat," manager Bryan Price said. "Choosing when to use him has been one of my challenges. No one anticipated that it would take this long to get him to the point where he could catch again. He has taken some fly balls, not that he could be out there soon."

"I just bought an outfielder's glove but I would need a lot of work to play the outfield but I bought it in case of an emergency," Mesoraco said.

Mesoraco wants to contribute and got his chance as a pinch hitter.

"I went about a month without a hit," Mesoraco said. "I meant a lot for me to contribute. I knew Grilli would come right after me. I was ready for a fastball.. It was my first walkoff hit. I've had chances before where I wished I had gotten a hit."

Pena was also happy to contribute as Mesoraco's back up.

"I am thankful to Bryan (Price) for giving me the opportunity to contribute," Pena said.

Not known for his speed, Pena was lifted for a pinch runner, pitcher Michael Lorenzen, who has enough speed.  Lorenzen started in centerfield for Cal-State Fullerton just two years ago. He knows how to run the bases and the knowledge was fresh in his memory.

"They told me around the seventh inning to be prepared," Lorenzen said. "I went in and changed shoes and went beneath the stands to warm up. When Devin first hit it, I thought I was going first to third. I didn't think the ball would get to the wall. I turned second too wide and thought, oh no, but I watched (thirdbase coach Jim) Riggleman and he was waving me."

"Lorenzen played centerfield not long ago," Price said. "It was a no brainer."

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Two young starters battled to a draw through seven innings.

Atlanta's Mike Foltynewicz, acquired in a trade with Houston, allowed three runs, two earned on six hits over his 6 2/3 innings.  Cincinnati's Anthony DeSclafani gave up three runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings.

With the game tied at three, the bullpens took over.

Todd Frazier hit his National League tying 11th home run in the first inning with Joey Votto on base via a walk. The blow would have hurt more but Billy Hamilton was thrown out stealing as Marlon Byrd struck out on a 3-2 pitch.

DeSclafani held the lead until the third.  Andrelton Simmons singled with one out. Freddie Freeman hit one past Votto at first. Kelly Johnson doubled home Simmons and Alberto Callaspo delivered Freeman with a sacrifice fly.

The Braves took a lead in the fourth.  Jace Peterson doubled and two outs later Nick Markakis doubled.

The Reds chased Foltynewicz in the seventh.  Brayan Penas, who extended his hitting streak to five with a wasted two-out double in the fourth, singled to open the inning. Zack Cozart, who missed his second straight game with a sore left wrist, pinch hit for J.J. Hoover. Cozart attempted sacrifice bunt was thrown into centerfield by Foltynewicz.  Hamilton moved the runners up with a bunt and Byrd's sacrifice fly tied the game, 3-3.