ATLANTA — The Reds held two leads Wednesday night. The Braves erased both of them before taking their first lead on the final pitch.
Mauricio Dubón chopped an infield single off Luis Mey with one out in the bottom of the 10th inning, scoring DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and lifting Atlanta to a 3-2 victory at Truist Park. Cincinnati fell to 73-85, while the Braves evened the three-game series at one win apiece.
Juan Brito gave the Reds an immediate lead against Chris Sale. Brito drove a 3-1 pitch 408 feet to center field for his third home run of the season, putting Cincinnati ahead 1-0 before Sale had recorded an out.
The Reds did little else against Atlanta’s ace. Oswaldo Cabrera doubled and stole third during the third inning but was stranded, and Sale allowed four hits without walking a batter over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out 10 and reached 200 strikeouts for the ninth time in his career.
Andrew Abbott matched Sale through five scoreless innings before Matt Olson tied the game during the sixth. Olson launched his 41st home run 415 feet to center with two outs, erasing Cincinnati’s early advantage.
The Reds moved back in front during the seventh. Matt McLain tripled into right field to open the inning and scored when Will Banfield lifted a sacrifice fly to left, giving Cincinnati a 2-1 lead.
That lead lasted exactly one batter into the bottom half. Austin Riley drove Abbott’s first pitch 409 feet to center for his 18th homer, tying the game at 2-2.
Abbott completed seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out six. He threw 62 of his 100 pitches for strikes before Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson each worked a scoreless inning to send the game to extra innings.
Cincinnati began the 10th with McLain at second base but failed to move him. Cabrera struck out, Tyler Stephenson grounded out and JJ Bleday flied out as Brent Suter escaped without allowing a run.
Atlanta did not waste their own chance. Ha-Seong Kim bunted Keirsey to third before Mey hit Drake Baldwin with a pitch. Dubón followed with a ground ball that Mey could not turn into an out, allowing Keirsey to score the winning run.
Mey took the loss despite the run being unearned, while Suter earned the victory. Brito and McLain collected two hits apiece, but Cincinnati finished with five hits, one walk and 15 strikeouts. The Reds also went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. A common refrain this season.
The pitching was good enough to win. The offense simply did not provide enough room for error.
What’s Next: Cincinnati concludes its three-game series against Atlanta Thursday at Truist Park. Brady Singer is scheduled to start for the Reds against former Cincinnati right-hander Tyler Mahle, with first pitch set for 7:15 p.m. on FS1.
