Wild Pitch Sinks Aroldis Chapman And The Reds

http://donatelifeohio.org/

For the second day in a row, Aroldis Chapman was hittable and wild in the Reds' 2-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves.

Entering the ninth inning with the score tied 1-1, pinch hitter Phil Gosselin singled up the middle with one out. Nick Markakis followed with another solid single to center.  Gosselin took advantage of Chapman's attention to Andrelton Simmons by stealing third. While striking out Simmons, Chapman threw a wild pitch that allowed Gosselin to speed home with the lead run

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

Kristopher Negron saved a run by smothering Freddie Freeman's ground ball up the middle but left the Reds with a one-run deficit to make up.

Atlanta brought Jim Johnson in to protect the perilous lead. Phillips singled with one out bringing a struggling Jay Bruce to the plate. Bruce worked the count full but struck out swinging as Phillips stole second. Negron grounded to short to end the game.

The pitch that cost the Reds the game upset Barnhart.

"There was no crossing up. It was outside and I didn't catch it. No excuses," Barnhart said.

Bryan Price understood that Barnhart took responsibility but sited other factors that led to the Reds 17th loss in 32 games.

"We didn't play well," Price said. "When you have chances to score and don't you put yourself in a position where on mistake beats you."

It was the second loss in two games for Chapman, who also entered the ninth inning of a tie game on Sunday, allowing three straight singles after two outs to lose to the Chicago White Sox.

"They're putting the ball in play against him," Price said. "He struck out two in the inning but they got the ball in the air and through the infield, they took advantage of a slow delivery to steal a base. Barnhart feels bad but its tough when a guy throws that hard and you expect the ball to sink and it sails. It's tough."

Two of the hottest pitchers in the National League hooked up in a good ole good one at Great American Ball Park.

Shelby Miller, the Atlanta Braves starter, had a 4-1 record with a tiny 1.66 Earned Run Average.

The Reds starter Mike Leake, 2-1, had two straight eight-inning scoreless outings.

Order Amazon at right

The Reds threatened Miller in the first inning.

Billy Hamilton walked and pilfered second base for his 17 stolen base.  He went to third when Miller wheeled to pick the thief off but no one covered.  As he started to throw, he tried to take it back and the throw resembled a ground ball through shortstop into centerfield to put Hamilton on third with no outs.

Miller bowed his neck and struck out Marlon Byrd and Joey Votto.  Todd Frazier grounded out to end the threat.

Leake pitched around a double by the newest pain-in-the-butt, Andrelton Simmons in the first.

The Reds scored in the second.  Brandon Phillips was on through an infield single and advanced to third when Jay Bruce grounded a single to rightfield.  Kristopher Negron, who replaced Zack Cozart, was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Tucker Barnhart hit a sacrifice fly to end the inning.

Cozart was in the original starting lineup but was scratched as his injured wrist caused him pain.

Leake stretched his scoreless streak to 19 innings until Simmons hit his third home run of the season, leading off the fourth.

Leake worked out of bases loaded jams in the fourth and sixth innings, plus a first and second threat in the fifth to preserve the tie as Miller kept the Reds at bay by retiring 16 straight, including Barnhart's sacrifice fly.

The Reds threatened in the seventh.  Phillips walked and Bruce backed rightfielder Nick Markakis the the rightfield wall. With two outs, Barnhart singled Phillips to third but pinch hitter Skip Schumaker grounded out weakly on a squibber the catcher fielded.