Two Braves Home Runs Send Reds To Ninth Straight Home Defeat

 

Dansby Swanson broke opne a tight game with a three-run home run off Joel Kuhnel in the seventh inning for the Atlanta Braves, sending the Reds to its ninth straight loss at home, 9-1.  Swanson's 14th home run of the season hit on top of the wall in left center field out of the reach of Nick Senzel.

It was the Reds third straight loss and the 50th of the season. The Reds dropped 24 games below .500 for the first time this season.  Only Oakland has more losses at 53.

Mike Minor turned in his first quality start of the season in his first ever statt against the team tbat drafted hime and brought him to the Major Leagues in 2010.  

"I didn't throw the ball that well.  I had a lot of 2-0, 3-0 counts.  I made some pitches when I had to," Minor said.

Three of the first four batters reached against Minor.  He hit Ronald Acuna Jr. with a 3-2 pitch in the first inning but Dansby Swanson hit into a double play.  Matt Olson singled and Austin Riley deposited his 19th home run of the season onto the grassy knoll in center field.   

"The pitch to Riley was ok," Minor said.  "I didn't think he hit it all that well but he's a big strong dude."

Minor finished with six innings and allowed six hits.

"It was a great start against a great lineup," David Bell said.  'He gave us a chance to win.  Even the home run was probably a ball off the plate.  Give Riley a lot of credit.  Their lineup took over after that."

Minor was dueling one of the Braves' top pitchers.

"You have to look at what Fried did for them<" Bell said.  "He really was able to shut us down.  Tommy Pham had a couple good at bats but we weren't able to get much going."

Max Fried the Atlanta starter, also pitched past the sixth inning.  The Reds put together three singles to score a run in the third.  Senzel, Jonathan India and Tommy Pham grounded hits through the Braves infield to get to within a run.

Fried pitched seven innings, allowing one run on five hits.  He did not walk a batter.

Joe Kunhel took over for Minor in the seventh.  Kuhnel got the first two Braves batters out but walked the nine hole hitter Michael Harris.  Acuna doubled but Harris held at third and got a good view of Swanson's heroics from there.

Luis Cessa spotted the Braves a pair of walks and Atlanta capitalized with a three-run eighth.

Jeff Hoffman pitched the ninth for Cincinnati.  He was touched for the Braves' ninth run.

"We have to keep working with out guys (in the bullpen)," Bell said.  "We have to stay with them.  It seems like an eternity when you're going through this.  It is a tough game but it can turn around in a hurry."