Photo: Getty Images
Reds 12 Rockies 7
What a swing of emotions from what could have been to what it became for the Reds.
The Reds were one out from losing Wednesday afternoon and having to settle for a series win and 4-2 road trip. But Spencer Steer's two-out, two-run 9th inning homer gave them the lead and Jonathan India's grand slam made it a six run 9th, for a sweep and a 5-1 road trip.
It's the Reds first sweep at Coors Field since 2012. That's four straight wins and 9 of 12.They are out of the NL Central cellar. They are just 1.5 back of 2nd place and 1.5 back of the Wild Card..... 100 games to go. They have picked up three games in three days on the Brewers.
The Reds had trailed 4-0 and 7-4, and then 7-6 in the 9th, on a day filled with frustration, mistakes and missed chances.....until the 9th. TJ Friedl was hit by a pitch for a second time on the day to open the inning. Elly's ground out to the right side moved him to 2nd. Jeimer Candelario flew out into a diving catch in left. Then Steer, 0 for 4 on the day, rocketed a 439-foot shot for the lead. India then clubbed his second grand slam of the season for the capper.
It's only fitting the 9th inning comeback came with two outs. 22 of 29 runs the Reds scored in the series came with two outs.
They trailed 4-0 in the 1st. Tied the game with two runs in the 3rd and 5th. Fell behind 5-4 in the 5th. Trailed 7-4 in the 7th. Cut it to 7-6 in the 8th.
Offense: 12 H, 6 BB, 10 K
Monday: 10 players had hits.... Tuesday: 9 players had hits ......Wednesday: 9 players had hits
Friedl: HR, BB, 2 HBP, SB, 3 R, 2 RBI
India: GS, 2 R, 5 RB, BB
Elly: 3 H.Two web gems in 4th. Snagged a hot smash that spun him around and threw a dart to 1B. Then, went deep into the hole.....three steps into the OF grass....jumped in the air....torqued his body...threw a strike. My goodness.
Candelario: 2 H, HR, 2 SB.... first two stolen base game of his career
Jacob Hurtubise: BB, 3B, RBI, R. OBP now .354.
Tyler Stephenson: H, six game hit streak.
Blake Dunn: PH BB in 9th.
How it started: The Reds failed to score with runners on 1st and 3rd w/ 0 out in the 1st. Friedl walked and Elly singled.
Elly was thrown out stealing. For some reason Friedl stayed at 3rd. The Rockies then hit Graham Ashcraft with a five hit/four run, 27 pitch 1st inning.
Aschraft: 3.2 IN, 6 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 2 K, HBP, 73 pitches/47 balls, ERA now 5.05. He walked off the mound shaking his head when David Bell took the ball from him.
Bullpen: Nick Martinez served up a 5th inning HR to Elias Diaz for a 5-4 Rockies lead. He had not allowed a HR in 23.2 bullpen innings...and just 2 runs. Justin Wilson allowed two runs in the 7th. Lucas Sims allowed both of Wilson's runners to score. Fernando Cruz navigated through major 8th inning trouble. Brent Suter finished up.
It wasn't the cleanest of games: Candelario committed his 3rd error (fielding) of the series, 8th overall. Jake Fraley was picked off 2nd down 2 in the 4th. Sam Moll was late covering 1B on a bouncer to Steer. Jacob Hurtubise dropped a fly ball on a running catch attempt that was ruled a double in a two run 7th. They did make some big plays in the 9th, throwing out a runner at 2nd and cutting down a runner at the plate.
How they scored:
3rd: Candelario 2-out, 2-run HR (8), 4-2 Rockies
5th: Friedl 2-run HR (2), 4-4
8th: Hurtubise RBI 3B, 7-5 Rockies
8th: India SF, 7-6 Rockies
9th: Steer 2-out, 2-run, 8-7 Reds
9th: India GS, 12-7 Reds
Next up: Four vs the Cubs at GABP starting Thursday night