For the second time this week, the Reds came from behind late to earn a 6-5 victory over a division rival. This time it was Pittsburgh Pirates.
Ramon Santiago had three hits, scored a run and drove in two, to turn the tables on the Pirates. Like his namesake in "A Few Good Men" Santiago gave the Pirates a "Code Red."
The M A S H unit in Cincinnati is overflowing.
Add Mat Latos to the wounded, Hawkeye. Latos left the game after five innings with lower back spasms.
"I felt it when I let loose of one pitch," Latos said. "It was like one of the middle infielders came up and stabbed me in the back. Before that the ball was coming out of my hand good, I had a good change up. Then my velocity dropped in a hurry. I couldn't finish my pitches. It sucks to give up four runs but the offense picked me up. I was trying to stay in after we went 12 innings yesterday but I hurt the team."
The right-hander making his fifth start since coming off the disabled list, allowed Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alverez to hit their 15th home runs of the season. McCutchen led off the inning. Alvarez hit his after an error by Jay Bruce, playing firstbase put Neil Walker on base and Russell Martin walked.
"We brought up (Curtis) Partch and (Carlos) Contreras because we were really thin in the bullpen," Bryan Price said.
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The inning put the Pirates in the lead after Billy Hamilton pulled a Houdini on firstbaseman Gabby Sanchez in the first inning. Hamilton bunted and Sanchez fielded it as Hamilton ran down the line. Hamilton pulled a "running back-like elusive leap" and sidestepped the attempted tag. Zach Cozart followed with a double into the corner to drive Hamilton in and was on thirdbase after advancing on the throw home. The Reds couldn't get him in.
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The Reds wasted a leadoff double by Ryan Ludwick in the second. He advanced to third on a one-out single by Ramon Santiago but Latos short bunt was fielded by Martin in time to get two outs.
Hamilton singled to leadoff the third but was picked off and charged with a caught stealing.
Carlos Contreras gave up a double to McCutchen and and RBI single to Martin in his two innings of relief.
The Reds chased Pittsburgh starter Jeff Locke in the seventh. Ludwick reached secondbase on a throwing error by Alvarez. Santiago doubled him home. Donald Lutz singled to put runners on the corners. Hamilton's groundout scored Santiago.
The Reds erased a five-run deficit on Tuesday for a win against the Chicago Cubs. This time the Reds dug itself out of a four-run hole.
Curtis Partch, just recalled from Louisville this afternoon walked the bases loaded in the eighth but struck out Martin and pinch hitter Ike Davis to get out of the mess.
Devin Mesoraco made it a one-run game with his 16th home run of the season off his name on the ribbon scoreboard in leftfield 419 ft from home plate with two outs off Tony Watson. The Reds tied the game on consecutive singles by Ludwick, Chris Heisey and Santiago, who is replacing the injured Brandon Phillips at secondbase. Bryan Pena put the Reds in front with a pinch hit single, chasing Watson from the game.
"It has to do with the guys are not trying to get it done at once time," Price said. "The kept chipping away. It shows that the guys are all in. We battled through the first two months. To do it against a guy like Watson, who throws missiles, is special. That guy is really good."
Santiago wasn't getting much playing time but has improved his batting average to .260 with three hits in four at bats.
"You don't want to lose more guys," Santiago said. "I am getting more opportunities. I have always tried to stay prepared by working everyday. I take ground balls at different positions. I take extra batting practice in the cage with the hitting coach."
The veteran was a member of the Tigers' team from 2006 through 2013. Santiago appeared in one World Series, two AlCS and one division series.
"We talked about it a lot," Santiago said. "We stay in the game because anything can happen. Early in the year we would get down and not come back. I think the mentality changed. The crowd can feel it. The crowd gave us so much energy tonight."
The rally allowed Partch to earn his first career win.
Aroldis Chapman struck out Jordy Mercer to become the first relief pitcher since at least 1900 to strike out at least one batter in 40 consecutive appearances. Chapman struck out pinch hitters Michael Martinez and Matt Hague to earn his 20th save of the year.
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