Dateline: Cincinnati
The Atlanta Braves showed Chris Paddack and the Reds why they have the best record in baseball. They scored early off the newest Reds' starter with four runs in the first to innings on the way to an 8-3 win, improving to 39-19.
Paddack, the sheriff, lost his second decision as a Reds' pitcher and dropped to 0-7 on the season as the Reds dropped to 29-27 on the season.
Ronald Acuna Jr. opened the game with his fourth home run of the season against Reds' starter, Chris Paddack. It was the third time Acuna has led off a game with a home run.
After that Blake Dunn took over, the next batter, Michael Harris II made a bid for his 13th home run of the season but Dunn plucked it out of the first row of the seats in right center field. Matt Olson hit a line drive off the base of the fence in right. Dunn played the carom and threw a strike to Elly De La Cruz to nail Olson at second base.
"It didn't start off great after giving up a leadoff homer," Paddack said. "I definitely owe Dunn a steak dinner. You never want to see those plays because it shows I'm not pitching well but robbing the home run and the throw out at second was impressive. I said after the last start, I feel like it's been a trend, I'm walking guys, getting out of the zone on counts I want to be putting away guys. All three of the walks scored. When I don't walk guys and attacking the zone, I'm able to put up some zeroes. I just have to be better."
The Braves loaded the bases in the second inning. Dominic Smith singled. Austin Riley and Mike Yastremski walked to load the bases with no outs. Jorge Mateo forced Yastremski at second as Smith scored. Chadwick Tromp flew out to right to plate Riley. Mateo stole second as Acuna walked. Harris singled to score Mateo.
JJ Bleday took Braves starter, Grant Holmes, out of the park with his eighth home run of the season. Sal Stewart followed with a double down the left field line. Stewart was thrown out attempting to steal third, right before Nathaniel Lowe belted his ninth home run of the season. Spencer Steer singled with two outs.
The Reds put pressure on Holmes in the fifth. TJ Friedl bunted for a base hit to start the inning. Dunn flied out. De La Cruz struck out but Bleday singles to right as Friedl took third. Stewart drove in the Reds third run with a single off reliever Didier Fuentes.
"The first inning could have been worse, the leadoff home run, then Dunner makes a good play and then another good play," Francona said. "I could have gotten ugly. To Paddack's credit, he hung in there. He got us through five where, even after an off day we didn't want to get into our bullpen in the second inning. DJ thought Paddack had about had it. He was starting to get pitches up. He had 86 pitches."
Yunior Marte took over for Paddack in the sixth. Paddack lasted five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and three costly walks. He struck out no one and allowed a home run.
Smith greated Marte with a single and he hit Riley with a pitch. Yastremski doubled to score Smith and put runners on second and third. Mateo singled to score Riley. Marte struck out Tromp. Acuna was walked intentionally. Caleb Ferguson took over and Harris third hit of the game scored two runs. He struck out Olson and Albies to end the inning.
"There is so much to like there with Marte. Like we talked about before the game he's just not quite consistent enough with his pitches. He throws some really good ones, then he leaves one over the plate. Give DJ some time to work with him," Francona said.
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