Reds 8 Diamondbacks 7 (11)
I still can't believe they won that one.
Nothing I write will accurately describe how insanely frustrating, crushing, deflating and then ultimately elating and exhausting that game was.
Arizona pitcher Nabil Crismatt BALKED in TJ Friedl in the 11th and somehow, some way, the Reds beat the Diamondbacks 8-7 in 11 innings. It was their MLB best 41st come-from-behind win. They also win the season series to hold a playoff tiebreaker over Arizona.
The Reds trailed 4-0 in the 6th inning and 4-1 in the 8th. They pushed across a run in the 8th, two in the 9th to tie the game and three more in the 10th to lead 7-4.
But Arizona answered with THREE RUNS IN THEIR 10th vs Alexis Diaz to tie things. Matt McLain allowed a potential game ending DP ball to roll through his legs for his second error of the night and it was 7-6. A sac fly made it 7-7.
Extra! Extra! Extra! Four consecutive hits produced three runs in the Reds 10th…Spencer Steer started things with an RBI to score De La Cruz. Nick Martini roped an RBI 2B. CES followed with an RBI 1B.
Big boost: Ben Lively came straight off the IL, with no rehab assignment, and hung around to provide a much needed 5.2 innings for the bullpen, allowing three runs. He entered the game in the 3rd inning and pitched into the 9th, before departing with one out. He threw just 66 pitches. The Diamondbacks plated three runs in the 5th, hitting for the cycle in the inning, including a three-run blast by Ketel Marte.
Rally time: Trailing 4-2 in the 9th, the Reds scored twice to even things. Tyler Stephenson’s double scored Marte (1B) and Matt McLain’s infield chopper scored pinch-runner Michael Siani. With two outs, De La Cruz smoked a liner to left field and was robbed at the wall by Lourdes Gurriell Jr.
McBomb: Shutout into the 6th, McLain got the Reds on the board with a solo shot, No. 16 on the year. That’s three bombs on the road-trip. He also had a single, stole his 14th base and had the game tying RBI groundout in the 9th..
Good for him: Stephenson had three hits, 1B, 2B, 3B.
Walks haunt: De La Cruz walked, stole 2nd, and scored on a Martini single in the 8th. De La Cruz has been putting together better AB’s, if not great results. He walked twice on the night. That’s six walks in his last 10 games.
Piecing it together: The Reds elected to go with an opener after the original scheduled starter, Brett Kennedy, was forced into action Friday night.
Fernando Cruz started: 1.1 IN, 1 R, 0 ER, 4 K, 23 pitches.
Sam Moll: 1.1 IN, 20 pitches
Lively: 5.2 IN, 6 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 66 pitches.
Gibaut 0.2
Diaz 1.0, 3 R, 0 ER, win
Sims 1.0, save
I’ve always loved Nick Martini: The 31 year-old journeyman followed his two homer night Friday with three hits, 2B, 3 RBI, BB.
Nails: TJ Friedl appeared to twist his ankle when he slid into the outfield wall while tracking a 5th inning ball that went for a triple. He was examined and stayed in the game. I’d imagine he sits Sunday after a night of swelling.