Late blunder costs Reds the game in a 2-1 extra-innings loss

The Cincinnati Reds defense made a series of blunders on the same play in the bottom of the 9th inning to blow the lead. 10 minutes later the Atlanta Braves picked up a walk-off win in the bottom of the 10th inning to take a 2-0 series lead.

Final
R
H
E

Cincinnati Reds (18-19)
1
7
0

Atlanta Braves (17-18)
2
8
0

W: Iglesias (2-2) L: Richardson (0-1)

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Cincinnati started the game out well as TJ Friedl singled and Matt McLain was hit by a pitch, and then with one out they executed a double steal. But the Reds weren’t able to capitalize as a strikeout and a ground out ended the inning.

In the bottom of the 2nd inning it was Atlanta putting the pressure on. With two outs Sean Murphy singled on a blooper into shallow left field and then the Reds may have caught a break when Eli White’s line drive down the left field line bounced into the stands for a ground-rule double that kept Murphy from attempting to score on the play. Michael Harris II would strike out to strand both runners and keep the game scoreless.

The Reds would get two men on with two outs in the top of the 3rd, but once again they were unable to push a run across the plate. Atlanta would get two runners on in their half of the 4th inning, but Andrew Abbott picked up back-to-back strikeouts to strand them.

Cincinnati turned the game over to Graham Ashcraft to begin the 6th inning and he retired the side in order to keep the game knotted up at 0-0. In the top of the 7th inning Austin Wynns crushed a ball to lead off against Chris Sale and it landed on top of the wall, but it bounced back in play and went for a double. Jacob Hurtubise took over on the bases for Wynns, but Sale recorded outs against the next two hitters. The 2024 Cy Young Award winner walked TJ Friedl with two outs, though, and the Braves made a pitching change to bring in Pierce Johnson. He got the job done, striking out Matt McLain to strand both runners.

Ashcraft returned for the 7th and ran into trouble as he walked Ozzie Albies to begin the inning and then gave up a single that moved the runner up to third base. That was all for Ashcraft as the Reds went to the bullpen to bring in Tony Santillan. He got a grounder to third base to begin his outing and Albies broke for home, but Santiago Espinal made the catch and fired to the plate where Albies was eventually caught in a rundown and tagged out. A line out to center followed, but then Santillan walked Nick Allen to load the bases with two outs. Alex Verdugo then hit a grounder to first base where Spencer Steer made a nice play on the ball and cruised to the bag to end the inning and keep the game scoreless.

Elly De La Cruz led off the 8th inning with a single and then stole second base. Tyler Stephenson would strike out, bringing Santiago Espinal to the plate. He came through, lacing a single over shortstop and into left field to score De La Cruz for the first run of the game and put his team in front.

Tony Santillan returned to the mound for the bottom of the 8th inning. Austin Riley would lead off with a single. Marcell Ozuna put a scare into the Reds with a fly ball that was caught just in front of the wall in right field, and then Santillan picked up back-to-back strikeouts to send the game to the 9th.

Cincinnati couldn’t add to their lead in the top of the inning. They called on Emilio Pagan for the bottom of the frame, looking to get through the bottom of the lineup and seal the win. The inning didn’t get out to a great start as Pagan walked Sean Murphy in a 7-pitch battle. Atlanta then went to the bench to bring in former Red Stuart Fairchild to pinch run. Eli White failed to get a bunt down twice before striking out and failing to move the runner into scoring position.

Michael Harris II then lined a ball down the right field line. Jake Fraley fielded it and threw towards second base. McLain caught it and seemed confused for a second before realizing he needed to throw the ball to the plate, where Fairchild beat the tag by a matter of inches to tie the game up. A grounder to second moved the winning run to third base, but Alex Verdugo flew out to center to end the inning and send the game into extra innings.

Cincinnati couldn’t cash in on their free runner in the top of the 10th inning. The Reds brought in Lyon Richardson from the bullpen to start the 10th inning and they intentionally walked Austin Riley to face Marcell Ozuna. He ended the game with a line drive into the left field single into corner as the Braves walked it off for a 2-1 win.

Key Moment of the Game

In the bottom of the 9th when Jake Fraley threw the ball towards second base and Matt McLain seemed unaware that Stuart Fairchild had been sent to the plate. The throw going to the wrong spot and causing McLain to hesitate before throwing home allowed Fairchild to score the tying run instead of being thrown out.