The Reds fell behind the Kansas City Royals by five runs before torching the visitors bullpen to tighten the game.
Miley, an off season acquisition that was expected to solidify the starting rotation, made just his second start of the season after spending nearly two weeks on the injured list with a strained left groin. The veteran left handle struggled through a lengthy first inning.
"I was fine; no issues," Miley said. "It was a long first inning, trying to find a rhythm. I didn't want to come out on that note but I was a lot happier coming out of the second inning. I was working hard in the first inning. I was trying to make the perfect pitch. I was a little too nibbly in the first inning."
The Royals made the most of two hits, aided and abetted by a walk and a rare passed ball by Tucker Barnhart. Whit Merrifield led off the game with a double. He moved to third on the pitch that eluded Barnhart, hitting off his mitt. Jorge Soler struck out for the first of three times. Salvador Perez topped the ball to the hole at shortstop. Freddie Galvis fielded it and made an off balance throw home in an attempt to keep Merrifield from scoring. The ball sailed past Barnhart, who retrieved the ball before Perez could advance. Miley walked Hunter Dozier. Ryan McBroom singled to load the bases. Miley struck out Maikel Franco and Ryan O'Hearn grounded out to Joey Votto.
The Reds loaded the bases against Brad Keller, who shut the Reds out for six innings on two hits. Shogo Akiyama singled in a lengthy at bat. A foul tip broke the right ring finger of home plate umpire Chris Conroy, who missed an inning but came back to take third base. Jesse Winker walked with two outs but Nick Senzel fouled out to the right fielder, Dozier.
Miley got two outs in the second inning but walked Merrifield. The Reds anticipated a short outing for Miley and had Tyler Mahle waiting to take over. Mahle struck out Soler but Perez hit his fourth home run leading off the third. The Royals scored a single run in the fourth without a hit. Adalberto Mondesi was hit by a pitch leading off. Mondesi advanced to third on two wild pitches by Mahle. Merrifield's sacrifice fly scored Mondesi.
"I knew that having thrown 32 pitches at Prasko (the Reds' off sight training field), that I wasn't stretched out and Tyler would come in. I felt much better throwing in the second inning."
It was the first relief appearance of Mahle's career.
"Mahle made some really good pitches," David Bell said. "I know he allowed a few runs but it was a tough ask. He hasn't done that before. It was a good step for him coming out of the bullpen"
T.J. Antone pitched two innings allowing a walk and run scoring double by Perez, his third RBI of the game.
Keller baffled the Reds. They had base runners in the third and fifth innings but double plays stopped budding rallies.
The game shifted when veteran Ian Kennedy replaced Keller. Jesse Winker pulled his third home run of the season into the empty seats in right field. Senzel walked. Galvis hit his third home run to make it a 5-3 game. Kansas City manager Mike Matheny brought Scott Barlow in from the bullpen after Josh VanMeter was announced as the pinch hitter for Kyle Farmer. VanMeter hit his first home run of the season to right field to make it a one-run game.
The Reds missed an great chance to tie the game in the eighth inning off Josh Staumont. Votto walked to lead off. David Bell brought Travis Jankowski in to run for Votto. Eugenio Suarez struck out looking but Winker's single put Jankowski on third with one out. Winker wasn't being held at first and stole second with Senzel batting. Senzel gave up on a curve ball that caught the strike zone for a third strike. Galvis also struck out looking on a nasty curve ball.
"In the eighth inning like that we have to do anything we can to tie the game," Bell said. "It didn't work out but we had a good chance. Of course we want Joey up in those situations but we had to tie the game. That was top priority."
Staumont made some tough pitches to get out of the jam and all Galvis could do was tip his cap to him this time. He also offered encouragement from the comeback.
"He has a pretty good curveball man," Galvis said. "He throws 98 and then drops that good curveball in. He had good stuff tonight. We have a good team and we come back. We have to keep fighting and working. Good stuff is coming for us."
Veteran Trevor Rosenthal took the mound for the Royals in the ninth. VanMeter walked on a 3-2 pitch and Michael Lorenzen was summoned to pinch run. Barnhart's attempted sacrifice turned into a force at second. Phil Ervin ran for Barnhart. Akayama walked to move Ervin into scoring position. Castellanos walked to load the bases. Former Royal top draft choice Christian Colon, who hit in Votto's spot came to the plate with one out. Colon got a key hit in the World Series for the Royals in 2015. He fouled off the first three offerings from Rosenthal. The Royals turned in their third double play of the night to seal the win.
Mondesi fielded the ball after two steps to his right. He fired to Nicky Lopez to force Castellanos and beat Colon with the relay by a step with a throw to O'Hearn.
"It is tough," Bell said. "Our team is competing doing anything it can to win and have those opportunities. To come back like that, we have to keep doing that. Our pitchers left it right there. It gave us a chance to come back."
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