CINCINNATI -- Ball three. Take your base.
With the help of a premature walk to Joey Votto that went unnoticed on the field, the Cincinnati Reds rallied for six runs in the seventh inning and beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 on Sunday.
Todd Frazier and Brandon Phillips each homered and drove in two runs as the Reds completed a three-game sweep of the NL East leaders. But it was a three-ball walk to Votto during the big rally that began to generate buzz after the game.
Apparently, none of the umpires and nobody on the field realized the count was 3-2 when Votto trotted to first base with one out. Cincinnati went on to score five more times in the inning.
A statistician on the press level at the ballpark noticed the gaffe and mentioned it to a Reds spokesman. Others watching the game pointed it out on social media. But on the field, play continued without interruption.
Neither manager was asked about the mistake afterward, but video showed Matt Grace threw only three balls to Votto before he went to first.
It was the latest indication that Cincinnati's fortunes have started to turn. The Reds have won four of five after a nine-game losing streak. They swept Washington for the first time since Aug 2011.
"Hitting is contagious," Frazier said. "It is the same with hitting with runners in scoring position. It is a mindset. Let the pitches come to you and attack."
Phillips snapped a 2-all tie with an RBI single off Aaron Barrett (3-1) in the seventh. Frazier followed Votto's walk with a run-scoring double, and Jay Bruce hit a two-run double.
Cincinnati sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning against three Washington relievers. Marlon Byrd stated the rally with an infield hit. Billy Hamilton popped up a bunt that Barrett dropped, but he recovered in time to force Byrd. Hamilton then got his 23rd stolen base, setting the stage for Phillips.
"Byrd hits a ball off the end of the bat," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "Then we get the bunt popped up and we don't catch it. That's the worst-case scenario, because now you've got Hamilton on base. There's pressure. He steals a base, there's a ball in the hole. The bullpen's been pushed a lot on this trip. It would help if your starters go deep into games. That didn't happen much on this road trip. It's a little blip."
The Reds have won three straight for the first time since May 12-14. The Nationals have lost three in a row for the first time since a six-game skid from April 22-27.
Frazier gave the Reds a 1-0 lead with his 16th homer and third in the past four games, a 366-foot shot down the left-field line on a 3-1 pitch from Tanner Roark leading off the fourth.
Phillips snapped an 0-for-18 slump with a solo homer to left with two outs in the fifth, his third of the season.
Michael Lorenzen followed fellow rookies Anthony DeSclafani and Raisel Iglesias to start against the Nationals.
"The three of us don't try to one-up each other. We feed off each other and support each other," Lorenzen said.
Lorenzen walked the bases loaded with one out in the seventh, setting up Michael Taylor's two-run single off reliever J.J. Hoover (4-0) that tied it at 2.
The walks cost Lorenzen a potential win.
"We talk about learning experiences," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Lorenzen is learning to manage a 2-0 lead, when you know a home run won't beat you, and challenging the hitters instead of making perfect pitches. He was just missing the plate. To their credit they laid off some tough pitches."
Lorenzen gave up just one hit and two runs, but walked six with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Roark allowed four hits and two runs over six innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: RF Bryce Harper returned to the lineup after being scratched Saturday with a sore back, the result of being hit by a pitch Friday.
Reds: RHP Johnny Cueto is Tuesday's scheduled starter at Philadelphia. Cueto has missed two starts since losing at Kansas City on May 19 while dealing with what Price has described as elbow inflammation.
ENOUGH'S ENOUGH
Both benches were warned after Roark hit Votto with a pitch in the first, the fourth hit batsman of the series. Reds reliever Tony Cingrani hit Harper in the back with his first pitch Friday. Harper stared at Cingrani and walked slowly to first base, drawing a rebuke from Votto.
TEXTBOOK `D'
Washington had a chance to take the lead in the second on Roark's two-out double with Taylor on first, but Taylor was tagged out sliding at the plate by catcher Tucker Barnhart on Phillips' relay of Hamilton's throw from right-center.
UP NEXT
Nationals: Washington returns to interleague play Monday, opening a seven-day, seven-game homestand with the first of three games against Toronto. The Nationals swept the Blue Jays in the previous series between the teams in 2012.
Reds: After getting Monday off, Cincinnati heads to Philadelphia for the first of two three-game road trips this season.
56°
Overcast
With the help of a premature walk to Joey Votto that went unnoticed on the field, the Cincinnati Reds rallied for six runs in the seventh inning and beat the Washington Nationals 8-2 on Sunday.
Todd Frazier and Brandon Phillips each homered and drove in two runs as the Reds completed a three-game sweep of the NL East leaders. But it was a three-ball walk to Votto during the big rally that began to generate buzz after the game.
Apparently, none of the umpires and nobody on the field realized the count was 3-2 when Votto trotted to first base with one out. Cincinnati went on to score five more times in the inning.
A statistician on the press level at the ballpark noticed the gaffe and mentioned it to a Reds spokesman. Others watching the game pointed it out on social media. But on the field, play continued without interruption.
Neither manager was asked about the mistake afterward, but video showed Matt Grace threw only three balls to Votto before he went to first.
It was the latest indication that Cincinnati's fortunes have started to turn. The Reds have won four of five after a nine-game losing streak. They swept Washington for the first time since Aug 2011.
"Hitting is contagious," Frazier said. "It is the same with hitting with runners in scoring position. It is a mindset. Let the pitches come to you and attack."
Phillips snapped a 2-all tie with an RBI single off Aaron Barrett (3-1) in the seventh. Frazier followed Votto's walk with a run-scoring double, and Jay Bruce hit a two-run double.
Cincinnati sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning against three Washington relievers. Marlon Byrd stated the rally with an infield hit. Billy Hamilton popped up a bunt that Barrett dropped, but he recovered in time to force Byrd. Hamilton then got his 23rd stolen base, setting the stage for Phillips.
"Byrd hits a ball off the end of the bat," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "Then we get the bunt popped up and we don't catch it. That's the worst-case scenario, because now you've got Hamilton on base. There's pressure. He steals a base, there's a ball in the hole. The bullpen's been pushed a lot on this trip. It would help if your starters go deep into games. That didn't happen much on this road trip. It's a little blip."
The Reds have won three straight for the first time since May 12-14. The Nationals have lost three in a row for the first time since a six-game skid from April 22-27.
Frazier gave the Reds a 1-0 lead with his 16th homer and third in the past four games, a 366-foot shot down the left-field line on a 3-1 pitch from Tanner Roark leading off the fourth.
Phillips snapped an 0-for-18 slump with a solo homer to left with two outs in the fifth, his third of the season.
Michael Lorenzen followed fellow rookies Anthony DeSclafani and Raisel Iglesias to start against the Nationals.
"The three of us don't try to one-up each other. We feed off each other and support each other," Lorenzen said.
Lorenzen walked the bases loaded with one out in the seventh, setting up Michael Taylor's two-run single off reliever J.J. Hoover (4-0) that tied it at 2.
The walks cost Lorenzen a potential win.
"We talk about learning experiences," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Lorenzen is learning to manage a 2-0 lead, when you know a home run won't beat you, and challenging the hitters instead of making perfect pitches. He was just missing the plate. To their credit they laid off some tough pitches."
Lorenzen gave up just one hit and two runs, but walked six with four strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.
Roark allowed four hits and two runs over six innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: RF Bryce Harper returned to the lineup after being scratched Saturday with a sore back, the result of being hit by a pitch Friday.
Reds: RHP Johnny Cueto is Tuesday's scheduled starter at Philadelphia. Cueto has missed two starts since losing at Kansas City on May 19 while dealing with what Price has described as elbow inflammation.
ENOUGH'S ENOUGH
Both benches were warned after Roark hit Votto with a pitch in the first, the fourth hit batsman of the series. Reds reliever Tony Cingrani hit Harper in the back with his first pitch Friday. Harper stared at Cingrani and walked slowly to first base, drawing a rebuke from Votto.
TEXTBOOK `D'
Washington had a chance to take the lead in the second on Roark's two-out double with Taylor on first, but Taylor was tagged out sliding at the plate by catcher Tucker Barnhart on Phillips' relay of Hamilton's throw from right-center.
UP NEXT
Nationals: Washington returns to interleague play Monday, opening a seven-day, seven-game homestand with the first of three games against Toronto. The Nationals swept the Blue Jays in the previous series between the teams in 2012.
Reds: After getting Monday off, Cincinnati heads to Philadelphia for the first of two three-game road trips this season.
56°Overcast
1:10PM,EDT,May 31,2015
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Washington - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | WSH | CIN |
| Span lined out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Desmond struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Escobar walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Harper walked, Escobar to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Zimmerman grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Tanner Roark pitching for Washington | WSH | CIN |
| Phillips grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Votto hit by pitch. | 0 | 0 |
| Frazier lined out to center, Votto to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Cozart lined out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | WSH | CIN |
| Ramos lined out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Espinosa struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Taylor walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Roark doubled to center, Taylor thrown out at home. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Tanner Roark pitching for Washington | WSH | CIN |
| Schumaker grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Barnhart lined out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Lorenzen struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | WSH | CIN |
| Span grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Desmond flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Escobar grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Tanner Roark pitching for Washington | WSH | CIN |
| Hamilton grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Phillips lined out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Votto grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | WSH | CIN |
| Harper flied out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Zimmerman grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Ramos struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Tanner Roark pitching for Washington | WSH | CIN |
| Frazier homered to left (410 feet). | 0 | 1 |
| Bruce walked. | 0 | 1 |
| Cozart lined out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| Schumaker lined out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Barnhart grounded out to second. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | WSH | CIN |
| Espinosa flied out to left. | 0 | 1 |
| Taylor struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| Roark grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Tanner Roark pitching for Washington | WSH | CIN |
| Lorenzen grounded out to first. | 0 | 1 |
| Hamilton grounded out to pitcher. | 0 | 1 |
| Phillips homered to left (387 feet). | 0 | 2 |
| Votto singled to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Frazier singled to right, Votto to third. | 0 | 2 |
| Bruce flied out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | WSH | CIN |
| Span lined out to left. | 0 | 2 |
| Desmond lined out to right. | 0 | 2 |
| Escobar grounded out to third. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Tanner Roark pitching for Washington | WSH | CIN |
| Cozart lined out to center. | 0 | 2 |
| Schumaker flied out to right. | 0 | 2 |
| Barnhart flied out to right. | 0 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | WSH | CIN |
| Harper walked. | 0 | 2 |
| Zimmerman walked, Harper to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Ramos lined out to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Espinosa walked, Harper to third, Zimmerman to second. | 0 | 2 |
| Hoover relieved Lorenzen. | 0 | 2 |
| Byrd in left field. | 0 | 2 |
| Taylor singled to left, Harper and Zimmerman scored, Espinosa to second, Espinosa to third advancing on throw. | 2 | 2 |
| Robinson hit for Roark. | 2 | 2 |
| Robinson lined into double play, to first, Taylor doubled off first. | 2 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Aaron Barrett pitching for Washington | WSH | CIN |
| Barrett relieved Roark. | 2 | 2 |
| Byrd reached on infield single to second. | 2 | 2 |
| Hamilton bunted into fielder's choice to pitcher, Byrd out at second. | 2 | 2 |
| Hamilton stole second. | 2 | 2 |
| Phillips singled to left, Hamilton scored. | 2 | 3 |
| Grace relieved Barrett. | 2 | 3 |
| Votto walked, Phillips to second. | 2 | 3 |
| Frazier doubled to center, Phillips scored, Votto to third. | 2 | 4 |
| Bruce doubled to deep right, Votto and Frazier scored. | 2 | 6 |
| Bruce stole third. | 2 | 6 |
| Cozart intentionally walked. | 2 | 6 |
| Boesch hit for Hoover. | 2 | 6 |
| Boesch singled to right, Bruce scored, Cozart to third. | 2 | 7 |
| Hill relieved Grace. | 2 | 7 |
| Barnhart singled to right, Cozart scored, Boesch to second. | 2 | 8 |
| Byrd grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Barnhart out at second. | 2 | 8 |
| 6 Runs, 6 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Tony Cingrani pitching for Cincinnati | WSH | CIN |
| Cingrani relieved Hoover. | 2 | 8 |
| Moore hit for Span. | 2 | 8 |
| Moore struck out swinging. | 2 | 8 |
| Desmond struck out swinging. | 2 | 8 |
| Escobar struck out swinging. | 2 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Taylor Hill pitching for Washington | WSH | CIN |
| Moore in left field. | 2 | 8 |
| Taylor in center field. | 2 | 8 |
| Hamilton struck out looking. | 2 | 8 |
| Phillips grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 8 |
| Votto grounded out to second. | 2 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Manny Parra pitching for Cincinnati | WSH | CIN |
| Parra relieved Cingrani. | 2 | 8 |
| Harper grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 8 |
| Zimmerman grounded out to third. | 2 | 8 |
| Ramos grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Washington Nationals | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Span CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .314 | .356 | .504 |
b-Moore PH-LF
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | .200 | .273 | .420 |
| Desmond SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | .250 | .299 | .390 |
| Escobar 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | .313 | .371 | .391 |
| Harper RF | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 17 | .325 | .469 | .724 |
| Zimmerman 1B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | .228 | .286 | .381 |
| Ramos C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .270 | .294 | .375 |
| Espinosa 2B | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 12 | .254 | .358 | .446 |
| Taylor LF-CF | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 13 | .221 | .283 | .394 |
| Roark P | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .286 | .286 | .429 |
a-Robinson PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .245 | .273 | .340 |
Barrett P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Grace P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Hill P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 27 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 124 | |||
| a-lined out to first for T Roark in the 7th b-struck out swinging for D Span in the 8th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Roark (1, Lorenzen) RBI: Taylor 2 (18) Nationals RISP: 1-4 (Ramos 0-1, Taylor 1-1, Robinson 0-1, Zimmerman 0-1) Team LOB: 4 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Desmond-Espinosa-Zimmerman). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH |
| Attendance | 31,874 (75.3% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:45 |
| Weather | 64 degrees, overcast |
| Wind | 17 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Paul Emmel, First Base - Jordan Baker, Second Base - Jerry Meals, Third Base - Andy Fletcher |
No comments:
Post a Comment