Ozzie Albies And Freddie Freeman Combine To Scalp Reds

http://donatelifeohio.org/

Homer Bailey didn't have it today whatever "it" is.  He lasted five innings in the Atlanta Braves 7-4 triumph over the Reds that gained a split in the series, dropping the Reds to 5-20 on the season.

The first career home run by Ronald Acuna Jr in the second and the eighth home run of the season by the diminutive (5'8" 165lb) Ozzie Albies with a man on put the Braves up 4-0 in the fifth inning.  Albies homer to right, followed a well placed ground ball past third base by pitcher Sean Newcomb, who couldn't have rolled it better.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

"My goal was to go deep in the game.  Our bullpen has been picking us up.  I understand why he hit for me after 55 pitches  We had to get a rally going and that's what happened," Bailey said. "My slider hasn't been good.  I can think of three of them that were hit for home runs the last few games that hurt us."

The normal Reds' tormentors, Freddie Freeman, double and Nick Markakis, single with two outs started the Braves in the first.

"The Braves are playing good baseball.  We didn't have an answer for the middle of their lineup," Reds' interim manager Jim Riggleman said.

The Reds got singles from Devin Mesoraco and Jose Peraza off Newcomb in the first four innings and had nothing to show for it until the fifth.

Alex Blandino singled one out into the fifth.  Phil Gosselin hit for Bailey and walked.  Billy Hamilton walked on four pitches.  Peraza didn't get a hit but made the key play by beating the relay on the potential double play ball to drive in the Reds' first run and extend the inning for Joey Votto.  Votto hit his third home run of the season and third in three days to tie the score off Newcomb.

"A lot of great things happened in the game, unfortunately, we came up short again," Riggleman said.  "We certainly don't accept coming up short but three of the four ballgames were down by a much as four runs and every one of those games we tied and/or went ahead in those games."

Votto as he has in the past is starting to heat up but has no reason for the turnaround.

"I'm not missing now," Votto said.  "I was trending that way hitting the ball the other way.  That's the way baseball is sometimes.  I don't have an answer for that."

"We have seen this the last few seasons," Riggleman said.  "Joey Votto starts putting up historic numbers at the end of April and the beginning of May."

The Braves got two runs off Wandy Peralta in the eighth.  Freddie Freeman his his third double of the game off the bullpen fence to lead off.  Peralta retired the next two on a fly to left and pop up to shallow left.  He appeared to get out of the inning when Acuna hit a ball high in the air but it fell in between Scott Schebler and Blandino for a bloop double.  Swanson grounded a single through the hole at shortstop and Acuna scored.

"The two out hits today were particularly painful because Peratlta was throwing the ball outstanding. He made a good pitch and it was a flare down the rightfield line.  There is nothing you can do about that," Riggleman said.

Albies two out double off Dylan Floro in the ninth drove in Ender Inciarte, the third RBI of the game for Albies.  The Braves second baseman leads the Major Leagues with extra-base hits with 19.

The Reds brought the tying run to the plate against Arodys Vizcaino with two outs.

Jesse Winker, who improved to .323, doubled as a pinch hitter.  Scooter Gennett walked as a pinch hitter to bring the tying run to the plate.  Billy Hamilton was taken down for pinch hitter Tucker Barnhart but he flied to left to end the game.