Max Schuemann and Lawrence Butler belted two-run home runs in the seventh inning with two outs to propel the Oakland A's to a 5-4 win over the reeling Reds.
The Reds have dropped four of their last five games, falling six games below .500. American League teams have beaten the Reds nine straight times at Great American Ball Park.
The Reds broke the ice in the fourth inning. Ty France hit a bloop single to right following walks to Tyler Stephenson and Spencer Steer.
Jakob Junis was the emergency starter pitched four perfect innings with three strikeouts. The Reds are hurting in the starting pitcher department. Graham Ashcraft will not make it back this season. Hunter Greene has a contusion in his right elbow. Andrew Ashcraft was placed on the injured list with discomfort in his left shoulder. The Reds placed Nick Lodolo on the injured list with a blister on his left index finger.
"Nick is still working with Sean a little bit," David Bell said.. "I do think there is a scenario where he is splinted up for a couple weeks. He could get better before that. It is a rare, concerning, not concerning long term, but its a rare injury that could keep him out the rest of the year."
Junis who has started in his career was efficient and saved the bullpen innings.
"Jakob just threw a ton of strikes. We didn't know far he could go to be able to get those four innings, set us up to give us a chance to win.," David Bell said.
Tyler Stephenson extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single in the sixth. Espinal extended his streak to nine with a third inning single. Spencer Steer made it nine in a row for him.
Buck Farmer took over for Junis and allowed the first base runner a walk to Seth Brown.
The A's starter rookie Mitch Spence pitched six innings and allowed one run on five hits and three walks. He struck out three.
The Reds used three pitchers to navigate the top of the sixth. Max Schuemann broke the combined no-hitter with a leadoff double. Farmer struck out Jacob Wilson. David Bell brought in Sam Moll, who retired Lawrence Butler on a ground out. Bell ordered Brent Rooker, who has 30 home runs to face left handed, JJ Bleday. Moll walked Bleday to ruin the strategy. Tony Santillan struck out Shea Langeliers to end the threat.
Schuemann hit a two-run home run his seventh off Tony Santillan to give the A's the lead. He also singled in the game. Lawrence Butler followed Jacob Wilson's single with the second two-run home run of the inning. It was his 15th of the season. It came off Justin Wilson.
Casey Legumina struck out two batters to start the eighth but Zack Gelof hit his 16th home run of the season to put the Reds down 5-1.
The Reds scored a run in the eighth off Tyler Ferguson. Stephenson singled for his second hit of the game, leading off the bottom of the eighth. One out later Steer drew his third walk of the game. Ty France put Butler against the wall for the second out. Ferguson walked Dominic Smith and Espinal to force in the Reds' second run;
The Reds faced rookie sensation, Mason Miller in the ninth. Miller was the winning pitcher in the All-Star game in July. With one out Elly De La Cruz singled. He went to third on Stephenson's third hit of the game. TJ Friedl grounded out as De La Cruz scored. Steer hit a bloop single to send Stephenson to third. France doubled to make it a one-run game and put the tying run on third but Miller struck out pinch hitter Amed Rosario to earn his 22nd save in 24 chances.
"We were down and not able to score early. Late off a good backend of the bullpen, our guys did a nice job of battling back. We just came up a little short," Bell said.
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