The Reds’ wake up call came in the seventh inning. The lumber seemed to slumber unill Billy Hamilton returned from injury to ignite a four-run rall with a bunt base hit.
When the smoke cleared, the Reds were in control on the way to a 4-2 victory over arch rivals, the St. Louis Cardinals.and Carlos Martinez
“We were facing an ace. It looked like he was on," Bryan Price said.. "He didn’t give us much to be excited about. Then we get a bunt hit. It’s the things you have to do."
Hamilton opened the seventh with a bunt single. Zack Cozart singled through the hole at short. Votto walked to load the bases. Adam Duvall struck out on a 2-2 pitch. Eugenio Suarez tied the game with a line drive directly over Fowler’s head in centerfield. Fowler got a glove on it but couldn’t hold onto the ball.
Martinez was through after 6 1/3 innings. Kevin Siegrist took over.to pitch to Scooter Gennett, playing in place of Scott Schebler. St. Louis brought the infield in. Gennett doubled into the rightfield corner to give the Reds the lead at 4-2.
“This is a crazy game," Gennett said. "You can do everything right. You can hit the ball hard and get nothing or you can make soft contact like I did tonight and get a double.”
“Siegrist is a tall guy. It looks like he’s half way home before he throws the ball. With second and third with the infield in, I’m bearing down. I was just going to swing at good pitches and put the ball in play somewhere,” Gennett said.
Gennett was hitless in 19 at bats when his line drive found turf.
“The more you play the game you understand that hitless streaks are going to happen," Gennett said. "You just embrace it and do the best you can.”
Asher Wojociechowski faced the minimum nine batters in the first three innings. A pair of double plays got him to the fifth inning in a scoreless duel with the St. Louis Cardinals Martinez.
The fifth was less kind to Wojociechowski.
Super villain, Yadier Molina, doubled to open the fifth. Tommy Pham matched him with a run scoring double. A single by Paul DeJong sent Pham to third. With one out, Martinez laid down a saftey squeeze bunt and Pham beat Joey Votto’s shovel throw home. Adam Duvall saved a run by getting to Dexter Fowler’s single quickly and making a strong throw to Devin Mesoraco that easily retired DeJong.
The Reds had a walk and a hit in the first two innings but both were erased attempting to steal. Hamilton opened the game with a walk. With two outs and Duvall at the plate, Hamilton committed the sin of getting thrown out at third for the final out of the inning. Duvall opened the second with what would have been a run scoring single if Hamilton stayed put. He was also thrown out by Molina when Eugenio Suarez struck out on a 3-2 pitch.
Through six innings, Martinez faced the minimum 18 batters.
Duvall erased Stephen Piscotty, who walked after a well executed hit and run play with Molina. Duvall’s throw to Suarez for the second out of the inning got Wojociechowski out of trouble in the sixth.
Duvall had to make good throws and he made them," Price said. "That saved the game.”
Wojociechowski left after the sixth, allowing two runs on eight hits and two walks. He struck out six.. Lisalverto Bonilla, who was credited with the win, took over.
“I was focusing on fastball location. They made good plays behind me. Two double plays. Those throws by Duvall were huge. It gives you confidence and you know you only have to get one more out.”
Michael Lorenzen and Raisell Igleasias grounded the Cards. Iglesias picked up his 10th save in 10 chances.
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