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I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Jesse Winker's Blast Stopped The Rockies Bid For A Sweep









Jesse Winker's second home run of the season off Chris Rusin in the 13th inning allowed the Reds to beat the Colorado Rockies 7-5.  It was Winker's first career walk off home run.  Dylan Floro pitched three scoreless innings to earn his second win of the season.

The Reds survived untimely errors and base running mistakes to send the game to extra innings with three runs in the eighth and ninth.

"We didn't play good but we played hard," Jim Riggleman said.  "We played hard the last few nights.  We feel like we should win every game.  We got one today.  They played good.  All our pitchers did a good job.  The only blip on the screen for us was Garrett.  We got nine innings of relief with only a couple of runs, we'll take that any day."

Floro is 2-1 and all of those decisions came in games 11 innings and longer.

"Floro has done that before," Riggleman said.  "He's been good and he's been durable.  Usually you get one or the other but he's been both."

Winker is part of the Reds' controversial four-man outfield.  Winker, a left-handed batter, hit his game winner off a lefty.

"It was a very fun day. It was a fun win for sure," Winker said.  "Any time you're names called you want to contribute.  As a left-handed hitter, it can be used against you.  I guess baseball has always been that way, whether you can or can't hit lefties.  Any time you can do anything productive against lefties, it helps build your case.  As a guy who wants to play every day you've got to be able to hit, lefties, righties, whoever. I take pride and getting better at that.  Scheb and Votto are good against them.  I learn from them.  Jay Bruce helped along the way with lefties also."

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It wasn't Winker's turn to play.

"That's kind of our message to the four guys in the outfield," Rigglman said. "We have an outfielder sitting every day but almost every day they get in the ballgame. This thing about being out of whack because you're not in it every day.  You pretty much are.  Winker stayed ready and was able to help us."

Tyler Mahle thought he had the first out of the game when DJ LaMahieu hit a ground ball to shortstop but Alex Blandino's throw was high and pulled Joey Votto off the base.  The Rockies put the leadoff man on base in six of the first seven innings.

"He popped up and my arm hit him when I went to throw," Blandino said.  "It's a tough spot for us we're trying to complete the play.  The umpires said once it went to review it wasn't his call any more. It was New York.  They thought he was trying to get out of the way."

Charlie Blackmon's single sent LaMahieu to third.  Nolan Arenado hit a ground ball to Blandino, subbing for Jose Peraza.  Blandino threw to Brandon Dixon, subbing for Scooter Gennett at second.  Dixon's relay was too late to double up Arenado, or was it?  The Reds appealed the safe call and won it as LaMahieu scored.

The Reds got the run back off Rockies' starter Tyler Anderson.  Adam Duvall singled with one out.  Curt Casali the newest Red doubled and Duvall beat the tag of Tony Wolters.  This call was upheld on review by Bud Black, the Rockies manager.

The Rockies got the lead back.  LaMahieu doubled to lead off the third.  Mahle struck out Blackmon and Arenado.  Carlos Gonzalez, however, singled up the middle to score LaMahieu.  The Rockies used a leadoff double to add a run in the fourth.  Mike Tauchman beat the shift with a slow roller that Suarez couldn't reach.  Ryan McMahon flied to right deep enough for Tauchman to go to third.  Mahle hit Wolters with a pitch.  Anderson bunted.  Votto fielded the ball and threw quickly to second.  With Wolters bearing down on him, Blandino's throw was too high to complete an inning ending double play.  The Reds claimed Wolters' slide interfered with Blandino's throw.  It was a down and up slide that appeared to hit Blandino's arm as he made the throw.  The umpires reviewed it.  This time the call went the Rockies' way.

Michael Lorenzen pinch hit for Mahle, who pitched five innings, allowing three runs, two earned on six hits, two walks and a hit batter.

Lorenzen singled with one out.  Billy Hamilton forced Lorenzen.  Scott Schebler's double scored Hamilton from first.  The Reds bid to tie the game was foiled when Arenado dived to spear Blandino's smash headed down the left field line.  Arenado was able to recover and end the inning, throwing Blandino out at first.

Amir Garrett relieved Mahle.

Tauchman dumped a single down the left field line.  McMahon drilled a triple to right.  Wolters was hit by a pitch again.   Anderson sent Wolters to second with a sacrifice bunt.  LaMahieu's fly to right made the score 5-2.

Anderson left after seven innings, allowing two runs on five hits, a walk.

Mike Dunn started the eighth for the Rockies.  Hamilton walked to lead off and Schebler followed with a single.  Gennett pinch hit for Wandy Peralta, who pitched a perfect eighth.  Dunne, who came into the game with 15 walks in 16 innings, walked Gennett to load the bases.   Scott Oberg entered the game to pitch to Votto with no outs.  Votto's slow ground ball to second base drove in the Reds' third run and put the tying runners in scoring position for Eugenio Suarez.  Suarez hit a hard one hopper to Trevor Story at short.  Schebler scored but put Gennett in a rundown.  Gennett stayed in it long enough for Suarez to take his place at second base.  The RBI gave Suarez 45 for the season one behind the NL leader, Javier Baez.   Jessee Winker pinch hit for Duvall and singled sharply to right  Gonzalez threw Suarez out at home.  Suarez failed to slide for some reason, leaving the Reds down 5-4.

Jared Hughes allowed a single to Arenado in a scoreless ninth.

For the third straight day, the Reds faced Wade Davis in a save situation.  Davis started the ninth with 20 saves in 22 attempts.

Casali, Dixon and Peraza were due to face Davis. Casali reached base by getting hit with a pitch.  Dixon struck out.  Peraza came to bat with a nine-game hitting streak.  His single to left extended it to 10, bringing Hamilton to the plate with the tying run in scoring position.  Runners advanced on a wild pitch off Wolter's mit to put the winning run at second.  Hamilton struck out swinging.  Schebler came to bat looking for his fourth hit of the game.  On a 1-2 pitch, Davis tried to bury a sinker and it got past Wolter to tie the game.  Schebler struck out on a ball in the dirt to send the game to extra innings.

Raisell Iglesias struck out all three Rockies' batters in the ninth.

Bryan Shaw walked Votto with one out in the 10th.but Surez hit into a double play.

Dylan Floro pitched a scoreless 11th.

Winker opened the bottom of the 11th with his second hit of the game off Shaw.  Casali sacrificed Winker to second.  Dixon walked. Peralta bounced into a double play.










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