Reds blow five run lead against Colorado, lose game on a steal
The Reds are streaking the wrong way in September.
After opening up a five-run lead after the second inning the Cincinnati Reds failed to hold onto it losing to the Colorado Rockies 6-5.
Joey Votto got the Reds on the board in the first with a bunt that scored Brandon Phillips. A four-run second inning capped off by a home run by Drew Stubbs gave the Reds an early 5-0 lead on Rockies starting pitcher Jason Hammel.
Travis Wood got off to a solid start for the Reds retiring the first five batters he faced to start the game. He kept the Rockies off the scoreboard until the fourth inning when he gave up a home run to Jason Giambi cutting the lead to 5-2. The Rockies scored another run off him in the fifth inning before he was replaced with Logan Ondrusek to start the sixth inning.
Cincinnati was still holding on to a 5-4 lead at the start of the eighth inning. Relief pitcher Nick Masset gave up a home run to Troy Tulowitzki to lead off the inning and tie the game, but the real excitement came with the way the winning run was scored.
The next batter, Jason Giambi got on base with a walk and was replaced with a pinch runner, Chris Nelson. Nelson advanced to third off Melvin Mora’s hit and a throwing error by Joey Votto. Two batters later Masset turned away from third and gave Nelson the chance to steal home.
“I turned around and by the time I looked to third base the guys was halfway home and I didn’t have a chance to get him,” Masset said. “It was a complete mistake on my part. You should check the runner at third right away and go from that...It was a complete mishap on my part. It is embarrassing, something that should never have happened.”
Huston Street gave up one hit to the Reds, but struck out three to earn save No. 17 on the season and preserve the win for the Rockies.
The loss dropped the Reds to 79-61 on the season. Colorado ended up sweeping the Reds extending Cincinnati’s losing streak to five games. With the St. Louis Cardinals winning, the Reds’ lead in the division decreased to five games.
Cincinnati will look to get back to their winning ways with a seven-game home stand against two last place teams, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Arizona Diamondbacks. Homer Bailey is scheduled to take the mound on Friday in the first game of a three game series with the Pirates. Paul Maholm is set to take the mound for the Pirates.
Tags: