Fan Favorites Jay Bruce And Todd Frazier Return Home Triumphantly

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Jay Bruce hit a two-run home run off Homer Bailey in a triumphant return to Great American Ball Park, where he started his Major League career on May 27, 2008.  It aided the Mets cause in a 7-6 wins.

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Bruce, Todd Frazier and Homer Bailey were all first round choices for the Reds.  Bailey was picked in the first round in 2004, Bruce in 2005 and Frazier along with Devin Mesoraco in 2007.

The Reds couldn't keep all four when it came time for arbitration and free agency.  They signed Bailey for six years and Mesoraco for four but couldn't afford Bruce and Frazier when they got into their 30's, the economics of the sports business prevented it.

The Reds turned Bruce and Frazier into five minor league players.  Jose Peraza and Scott Schebler are regulars in 2018.  Bruce and Frazier returned with the New York Mets to face, ironically, Bailey.

Bailey made his 200th career start, still looking for his first win of the season after four losses, gave up a home run to Michael Conforto on the second pitch of the game.  The Mets scored again in the second on a single by Adrian Gonzalez and a double by Jose Lobaton, that led to a run on Amed Rosario's sacrifice fly.  Bruce, who hit 135 home runs for the Reds at GABP, hit his third home run of the season in the fourth.  Two outs later Gonzalez hit his fourth home run of the season off Bailey.

"There is a lot of nostalgic things here," Bruce said. "I really had a blast being here. This place was home for me for so long."

The Reds fans shouted "Bruce" like they did when he played here.

"You'd like to think that every Reds' fan here would want the Reds to win but we went through a lot together," Bruce said.  Not the least of which was going through the Reds' minor league system with Bailey.  "It was a little weird but I'm happy that Homer is pitching again.  He dealt with a lot of injuries.  He's battled through it.  He's out there again and I'm sure it's step number one for him."

Reds' interim manager Jim Riggleman gave his team credit for battling back from such an early hole.

"We've been down three or four runs in many games.  Last night we fell a little flat for some reason," Riggleman said.  "Tonight we were right back at it, a lot of energy in the dugout, a lot of good at bats. I can't say enough about Duvall's plays in left field.  He's struggling at the bat but giving a great effort in the field, showing his character.  It was a great effort we came up short but I'm proud to go out there with those guys.  People get tired of hearing it but I promise you it is going to click in.  I'm not sure what day it's going to click in but we're are going to make some noise in this division."

Billy Hamilton hit his second home run of the season off J.P. Conlon, who is making his Major League debut.  Conlon helped get it back in the fourth inning with a ground single up the middle off Bailey.  Rosario hit a double to put Conlon on third.  Yoenis Cespedes hit a sacrifice fly to plate Conlon with the Met's sixth run.

The Reds still fought back.

Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett hit back-to-back doubles and Tucker Barnhart doubled to score two run int he fourth off Conlon.

Adrian Gonzalez hit his second home run of the game off Jackson Stephens, who was called up from Louisville today with Kevin Shackelford going down.

Suarez hit his fifth home run of the season off  Paul Sewald, leading off the sixth.  Adam Duvall and Barnhart hit singles to put runners on the corner.  Pinch hitter Scott Schebler hit a sacrifice fly to get the Reds closer at 7-5.  Gennett's third homer of the season off Robert Gsellman to make it a one-run game.

Raisell Iglesias entered to start the ninth inning.  Cespedes doubled and Bruce singled, putting runners on the corner with no outs.  Iglesias struck out Asdrubal Cabrera and got Frazier to hit into a double play to keep the game close.

Jeurys Familia picked up his 10th save with a perfect inning.

The Reds brought Stephens up because the bullpen has been worked hard and Bailey needed to take some lumps to help them.

"Among the other things I'm really proud of tonight was Homer," Riggleman said.  "Homer knew where we were with our bullpen.  He was out there and wanted to continue.  He would have pitched seven or eight innings to protect our bullpen. I'm really proud of him."

"I felt fine.  I didn't have my best stuff.  If I could get more innings for the guys in the bullpen I would have," Bailey said.  "They've been through more than enough."