Reds Suffer Walk-off Loss in 10th Inning Against Braves

Atlanta – Even after 13 successive innings without scoring by the Cincinnati Reds The pitching staff might secure a win for the visiting team during the initial two matches of a four-game series in Atlanta later this week.

Following Elly De La Cruz generating a go-ahead run through his swiftness in the eighth inning, Reds closer Emilio Pagán lost the lead in the ninth when Michael Harris II smacked a hit into right field, allowing ex-Red Stuart Fairchild, who was at first base, to score. This outcome appeared to catch Matt McLain off guard.

The second baseman, who was drifting into position to take the cut for a play at the plate, was forced to adjust back toward second to take the misdirected throw from right fielder Jake Fraley, then seemed caught off guard when he looked up and saw Fairchild on his way to the plate. The throw to the plate was a split-second late.

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Marcell Ozuna then walked it off in the bottom of the 10th for the Braves , driving a run-scoring single to left to send the Reds to their fourth consecutive loss, this one by a 2-1 score.

It’s not enjoyable. Losing isn’t fun, particularly when it happens that way," McLain stated. "However, it’s a lengthy season. You simply have to lower your head and continue working.

The Reds who held the Braves scoreless from the fourth inning Monday night through the eighth Tuesday, managed just one run total those first two games of the series, underscoring the small margin they have against the better, playoff-tested teams in a loaded National League.

In Exhibit A, we have the play from Tuesday when, following a seven-pitch walk drawn by catcher Sean Murphy at the start of the ninth inning, he was substituted with the swift pinch-runner Fairchild.

Following a strikeout, Harris hit the ball forcefully towards right field. After an extensive chase to intercept it, Fraley quickly released his throw but slightly off-target, forcing a play at home plate which then redirected toward second base. When McLain managed to get hold of the toss, he paused momentarily before attempting the belated throw to home plate.

“There was a hesitation, but he was on his way over to set up for the plate at home, so he was going back because the throw was going more toward second,” manager Terry Francona said without naming Fraley, “so there were a few things happening there.”

McLain seemed to try to shoulder at least some of the blame, suggesting he wasn’t lined up in the right spot for a throw home and then later that he “spun the wrong way.”

However, McLain was indeed set for the correct play. In fact, the toss pushed him away from first baseman Spencer Steer, who should have been positioned behind McLain to guide him on whether to throw to home plate or take the ball himself.

We genuinely didn't have anyone for communication because if he went where he was headed, Steer was right behind him," Francona explained. "The toss moved him over there, leaving no one around.

That ends up being the difference between claiming victory with a score of 1-0 and suffering defeat with a score of 2-1 at the tenth inning.

On this night, it was the margin between a winning record and a losing record 37 games into the season.

Where that kind of margin leaves them after another 125 games it the bigger question for this team with high expectations and its newly installed Hall of Fame-bound manager.

“That’s a hard game to lose, but that’s a fun game to be a part of,” Francona said. “We got (Austin) Wynns playing first base, and he almost wins it with one swing.

“It’s a tough loss, but we compete like that we’ll be OK.”

Wynns. He was a late addition to the lineup after Noelvi Marte was scratched 15 minutes before game time.

And in the seventh, he led off with a drive to left field that looked headed for the seats until hitting the top of the wall and bouncing back onto the field of play for a double.

The Reds — who had been eliminated from contention due to a unsuccessful challenge in the third inning regarding a foul-tip call — requested a crew chief review. The decision was upheld.

A ground ball to the shortstop, followed by two strikeouts, resulted in Wynns being left on second base after walking.

In the eighth inning, they seized the advantage due to Elly De La Cruz's exceptional velocity.

After beating out an infield hit to short leading off the inning, De La Cruz stole second. Two of the next three Reds struck out, but because Santiago Espinal singled to left in between the strikeouts, De La Cruz scored the first run of the series since Monday's third inning.

Up until Fairchild scored during an unusual play in the ninth inning, it seemed possible that the narrow advantage could have led to a Reds win rather than just barely enough lead to secure their success away from home.

The Reds' starting pitcher, Andrew Abbott, who has an earned run average of 2.25, delivered five scoreless innings in potentially his finest performance among his five starts this year. He returned to action after dealing with a shortened spring training and being placed on the injured list at the start of the season, which allowed him time to build up his stamina.

He fanned eight batters without issuing any walks, mirroring the performance of Cy Young award-winning pitcher Chris Sale throughout his 91-pitch appearance. In his two starts this month, he has yet to concede an earned run.

The article initially appeared in The Cincinnati Enquirer. The Cincinnati Reds suffered a defeat due to a walk-off in the 10th inning in Atlanta.