Atlanta Braves 10th anniversary of Brooks Conrad game
Atlanta didn’t exactly fight back
The Braves managed to push across a run in their half of the third thanks to an error from the sure-handed Reds (they finished the year with the 3rd-best fielding percentage in baseball… remember that for later).
In the 5th, another error brought home 2 more runs – with Jason Heyward being the batting beneficiary on both occasions.
Still… a Cincy homer in that inning made the score 9-3 and at this point, both teams were probably thinking about their dinner plans more than the game.
In fact, innings 6-to-the-top-of-the-9th looked entirely routine. Nobody reached base in the 6th; 2 runners for the Reds in the 7th, but a strikeout ended that 2-out threat. The only other runners (in the Reds 8th and 9th) were erased on double plays.
The Rally Begins
Bottom of the 9th. Mike Lincoln was brought in to mop up. Lincoln had a 9 season MLB career, though this was his last rodeo. But this was his role – eat an inning.
As things unfolded, though, he ended up with that dreaded note in the box score “faced 4 batters in 9th” because he didn’t get anybody out.
- Troy Glaus – Single
- Eric Hinske – Single
- Yunel Escobar – Single
Okay, yeah – the bases are loaded with nobody out. The remaining fans are stirring a bit, but … come on, it’s still a 9-3 deficit here.
- Nate McLouth – Single.
The 2 slowest non-catchers on the field scored. Okay, so now it’s 9-5 and Mr. Lincoln is excused from further action.
Nick Masset comes in to quell the uprising. He actually finished his career with the Atlanta Braves in 2015, throwing 15 relatively forgettable innings (6.46 ERA). In 2010, though, he pitched in the mid 3’s as a reliable member of the Reds pen.
Not this day. Kinda.