Atlanta Braves lose second straight game to MLB’s worst team the Cincinnati Reds, 9-7

Reds walk it off in the 12th inning, Braves lose second straight to worst team in MLB

What an unbelievable comeback by the Atlanta Braves.  The 12-10 Braves rallied twice in this game, but evidentially took the loss to the now 5-18 Cincinnati Reds.

No lead is safe at The Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

“It’s very similar to Coors Field,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said about the Reds ball park.  “I’ve seen some weird games in this place.  It’s just one of those places where no lead is safe, you’ve got to keep adding on.”

The Braves went down early in this game as the Reds scored three runs in the 2nd inning.  This inning was an ugly one for the Braves.  It was extremely sloppy.  The Reds loaded the bases and then hit a soft grounder to Freddie Freeman at first.  Freddie threw it home, but pulled Kurt Suzuki off the plate.  Safe at home.  The next batter his another soft grounder, this time back to McCarthy.  He tried to bare hand it and missed.

Brandon McCarthy started for the Braves on the mound.  He went five innings, gave up six hits, five runs (three earned runs), one walk and one strikeout.  Not the best night from the 34-year-old veteran pitcher.

“It was a garbage inning, I was so spotty command wise and execution,” McCarthy told the media after the game.  “It’s just little things that sometimes they turn into outs and sometimes they turn into runs.”

Tyler Mahle started for the Reds on Tuesday.  He went six innings, gave up three hits, three runs, two walks and 11 strikeouts.  He no hit the Braves through six innings…yes, if you missed the game, the Braves didn’t have a hit until the 7th inning.  The 23-year-old kept the Braves hitters off-balance with his mid-90’s fastball that was moving really well.

“The kid threw the ball really well,” Snitker said after the game.  “He started ramping it up the later in the game.  He started to get another gear.  But our guys never stopped and we came back.”

This is how the Braves broke up the no-no

After Freeman homered in the 7th inning, Nick Markakis followed with a double.  Kurt Suzuki then blasted another home run, his fourth on the season.  The score was then 5-3.

Unfortunately, the Reds answered and scored two additional runs in the bottom of the 7th.  With the score 7-3 and going to the top of the 9th, many probably turned the channel…but we still had a heartbeat!

Freeman led off the inning with another home run…his fourth of the 2018 season and second on the night.

After Markakis grounded out, Suzuki stayed hot and singled to right field.  Preston Tucker doubled after he smashed a ball to deep right center field that bounced off the wall.  Dansby Swanson then walked to load the bases.  After Ryan Flaherty struck out, Johan Camargo had a great AB and drew a walk.  This made the game 7-5.

Ender Inciarte at the plate on a 0-2 pitch, he crushed a ball to second which got past Scooter Gennett (remember that name) which scored Tucker and Swanson.  Game TIED at 7-7!

“It was great to see them come out roaring in the 9th and tie the game,” Snitker told the media.  “It’s good to see the guys come back.”

Extra innings baseball we go!

Yeah, extras are fun, but…

We’ll flash forward to the bottom of the 12th inning because not too much happened.

Braves just called up left-handed pitcher Max Fried earlier today and gave him the ball in the 12th inning.  He walked Joey Votto and then gave up a two-run bomb to Scooter Gennett.

Reds win 9-7 in the 12th inning

Shane Carle continues to pitch extremely well for the Braves as he went two innings, one hit, no walks, three strikeout night and now holds a 1.06 ERA.  We also saw Arodys Vizcaino in the 11th.  Though he had two balls hit hard off him, he got the Reds to sit down 1-2-3.

Next: Extending Nick Markakis may be best option for ATL

Braves are now 1-5 in extra inning games in 2018

“These guys have been fighting since day one,” Snit said.  “They keep getting after it.  You’re going to go through periods where it doesn’t go your way.  They’ll come out tomorrow and do the same thing.  We’ll come out and win the game tomorrow.”