Dateline: Cincinnati
Brandon Williamson triumphantly returned to Minnesota and battled wildness but shut down the team he rooted for as a child.
Wlliamson allowed one run on three hits. He are 5 1/3 innings to defeat the Minnesota Twins, 2-1.
Four walks threatened his longevity. He only struck out two but used the ballpark to his advantage.
His defense also bailed him out of a self induced jam and he turned a lead over to an more than capable bullpen.
Eugenio Suarez provided all the offense the Reds needed with a two-run double in the fourth inning
Normally the designated hitter, Suarez started the double play that extricated Williamson from the bottom of the fifth jam.
Elly De La Cruz doubled in the fourth. Sal Stewart hit a smash to third baseman, Ryan Kreidler. His throw to Josh Bell was low and bounced away enough for De La Cruz to obtain third. Stewart stole second baseman. Suarez shot a drive to the left field gap and the Reds had a 2-0 lead.
Williamson was cruising but walked Brooks Lee, Kreidler and Byron Buxton with no outs. Austin Lee hit a line fly to right that Will Benson made a sliding catch on as Lee scored and Kreidler went to third. Luke Keaschall hit a hot one hop ground ball toward the line. Suarez snared it made a quick pivot to Matt McLain who turned the inning ender.
Minnesota starter, Joe Ryan pitched two more scoreless frames.
Williamson got the first out of the sixth. Veteran Josh Bell hit his second single of the game.
Manager Terry Francona brought in Connor Phillips. Phillips struck out Victor Caratini and got Matt Wallner on a weak ground ball to the first base side of the mound.
The Reds were now set up with Graham Ashcroft pitching a scoreless seventh. He walked Trevor Karnach with one out. Buxton flied out to right. Martin singled but Keaschall tried Suarez again and was unsuccessful.
Tony Santillan allowed a inning opening single to Ryan Jeffers but got three routine flies.
Emilio Pagan, who dodged a tight hamstring injury, made quick work of his former teammates on 13 pitches to seal the Reds 12th win in 20 games.
The Reds are 9-0 in games decided by two runs or fewer. They are 11-0 in games in which they take a lead into the seventh inning.
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