Reds 4 Braves 3
Albert Almora Jr. lined a game-winning single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th to beat the Braves, snap a 10 game GABP losing streak and deliver the Reds first walkoff win of the season 4-3 Sunday at GABP.
It was certainly an interesting journey to victory.
No-hit to the 7th inning and trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the 8th, the Reds took advantage of a Braves pitching change and knocked four consecutive hits to score three runs and take an improbable 3-1 lead to the 9th. But David Bell turned to Hunter Strickland to close it and Strickland served up two home runs...both bolts......Marcel Ozuna (112.5 mph) and Michael Harris II (108.8 mph) to tie the game 3-3.
Charlie Morton took a perfect game to the 5th inning before a Joey Votto walk produced the Reds first baserunner. Votto was promptly picked off.
Morton lost his no-hit bid when Max Schrock singled to lead off the 7th. But manager Brian Snitker elected to go to his bullpen after 7 IN, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K. 94 pitches by Morton. The Reds jumped all over reliever Colin McHugh...single Albert Almora, single Nick Senzel, RBI single Matt Reynolds, pinch-hit two-run double Brandon Drury.
The Reds had totaled one hit in 16 innings as they entered the 7th, dating back to Friday night.
The Reds three runs in the 8th inning topped their combined total of two runs on Friday and Saturday.
Luis Castillo: 7 IN, 6 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 6 K, HR. 103 pitches/69 strikes. ERA 3.03.
Bullpen: Jeff Hoffman 1.0, 0 R.....Hunter Strickland 1.0, 2 HR
Given a 3-1 lead in the 9th, Strickland gets the win after allowing two homers.
Braves OF Marcel Ozuna hit two homers...