Scooter Gennett's second home run of the game off new Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried gave the Reds a 9-7 win in 12 innings.
Tyler Mahle sent the pizza ovens at LaRosa's to work early as he stymied the Braves for six innings. It was the first time this season the Reds won two straight games
 |
| http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/ |
"It was the least I could do," Gennett said after the game that was extended by his fielding mistake.
The Cincinnati based Pizza chain gives away free pizza whenever Reds' pitchers strikes out 11 or more batters in a game. Mahle had a career high 11 to end the sixth inning.
By then the Reds built a five-run lead off Atlanta Braves starter Brandon McCarthy.
The Reds had a three-run inning aided by the Braves case of the droppsies. Scooter Gennett singled. One out later, Tucker Barnhart walked. Alex Blandino singled sharply to left to load the bases. Mahle hit a high chop to firstbaseman, Freddie Freeman. His throw home was high and pulled catcher Kurt Suzuki off the plate as Gennett scored. Billy Hamilton topped a pitch to the thirdbase side of the mound. McCarthy rushed to make a throw and dropped the ball as Barnhart scored. Hamilton beat a low throw to first and got credit for a hit and RBI. Winker hit a sacrifice fly to left for the third run of the inning. Jose Peraza singled to reload the bases but Joey Votto, the ninth man to bat grounded out 4-3.Votto and Gennett hit back-to-back home runs off McCarthy in the fifth inning. It was the first of the season for both players. Votto got the silent treatment when he got to the Reds' bench after the grand tour.
Mahle was spinning a gem. He walked Nick Markakis twice but no one else reached base. Mahle struck out two of three batters in the fifth inning to surpassing his career high set in his first start of the season against the Cubs. Mahle struck out the side in the sixth for 11 strikeouts with his no-hitter in tact.
"Mahle was outstanding," Riggleman said.
Freeman loudly brought the no-hitter to a close for Mahle. He launched a home run to right center his third of the year. Mahle didn't regroup. Markakis doubled to the left-centerfield gap. Suzuki hit a line drive home run to left, his fourth of the year.
"My fastball was working. It was the best slider I had all year," Mahle said. "A no-hitter is always in the back of your mind. I didn't execute a pitch to Freeman. I threw a get-ahead curve to Markakis that he hit hard. I hung a slider for the home run. I didn't lose focus. I didn't execute a few pitches.
Amir Garrett relieved Mahle and allowed a hit but closed the inning without damage.
The Reds pushed across two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Winker opened the inning against lefty A.J. Minter with a double over the head of Preston Tucker in leftfield. Phillip Ervin ran for Winker. Peraza grounded a single up the middle but Ender Inciarte was so quick to the ball that Ervin had to hold. Votto struck out. Reds' manager Jim Riggleman put on the suicide squeeze that Gennett and Ervin executed. Gennett was out but Ervin scored easily. Adam Duvall took an intentional walk. Peraza stole third and Duvall second on the double steal. Barnhart grounded a single toward center Ozzie Albies made a diving stop and popped up to catch Duvall rounding third but Peraza scored.
"We felt we needed one more run there," Reds' interim manager Jim Riggleman said of the squeeze and the double steal.
Garrett retired the side in the eighth in order and started the ninth seeking his first career save.
Freeman hit his second home run of the game, leading off the ninth off Garrett. His fourth home run of the season gave Freeman his 12th career multi-home run game. It was the first run Garrett allowed in his nine appearances.
Suzuki singled and Tucker doubled with one out. Riggleman brought in Raisell Iglesias, who was 3-3 in save opportunities. Igleasias walked Dansby Swanson to put the tying run on base but struck out Ryan Flaherty to bring up Johan Camargo to pinch hit with the bases loaded and two out.
Camargo worked a full count from Iglesias before drawing a walk. Inciarte hit a low line drive that hit off Gennett's glove and rolled away far enough for the tying run to score from second. Iglesias had his first blown save, costing Mahle his second win of the season.
Gennett was kicking himself for not making the play on Inciarte's low liner that caught the secondbasemen in between hops. It was ruled a hit by the official scorer.
"It was a tough play," Riggleman said.
'I misread it," Gennett said. "Maybe I should have backed up on it. Live and learn. I'm glad I got a chance to make up for it."
Jared Hughes pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to secure his first win of the season.
"We are just trying to keep improving," Hughes said. "We didn't start very well but we are all trying to get better. We are all staying positive.
No comments:
Post a Comment