It was a good thing for Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani that Tucker Barnhart hit a home run in the sixth inning on Wednesday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. The two-run shot not only provided a lead, it allowed DeSclafani to pitch eight innings as the Reds took a 6-3 victory over the Braves and claimed two of three games in the series.
Braves starter Lucas Harrell took a 2-0 lead into the sixth inning when Cincinnati erupted for a four-run rally. With one out, Jose Peraza hit a two-run single to center field that scored Jay Bruce and Eugenio Suarez. Two batters later, Barnhart put the Reds ahead with a two-run homer to right field. Manager Bryan Price would have pinch-hit for DeSclafani, who was hitting ninth behind Barnhart, had they not taken the lead.
“I told [DeSclafani] the other day that he needs to pitch more, because I seem to drive in some runs when he pitches,” said Barnhart, who is batting .345 in his past 18 games. “[Harrell] threw me two sliders there before the heater. I was lucky to put a good swing on it. I feel really good at the plate right now. I’m just trying to keep it rolling.”
Harrell finished with four earned runs and seven hits over six innings, with three walks and three strikeouts.
“Wheels came off right there,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “He did a good job of keeping us in the ballgame for five innings. Obviously stayed with him too long.”
DeSclafani pitched eight innings for the second time this season and allowed two earned runs and eight hits, with no walks and three strikeouts. He is 5-0 with a 2.50 ERA in eight starts this season.
In the seventh, Joey Votto provided added insurance with his own two-run homer to right field against lefty reliever Ian Krol. The Braves made the gap less comfortable in the ninth, when Adonis Garcia led off with a first-pitch homer to right field against right-hander Ross Ohlendorf to make it a three-run game. But there would be no comeback, as the Reds won for the fourth time in their past six games.
In the sixth as Cincinnati trailed, 2-0, Bruce and Suarez started the inning with singles vs. Harrell. When Brandon Phillips flied out to right field, Bruce tagged up and went to third base, and Suarez alertly advanced to second base and easily beat a wide throw. That enabled Suarez to score on Peraza’s single on a close play at the plate that was reviewed.
“Suarez followed him and set the table for Peraza to line that two-run single that led us to Barney’s two-run homer and giving us a lead,” Price said. “So much of that was based on the fact the Geno tagged up and did a heads-up job on the bases. A lot of good things these first six games of the second half.”
Freeman goes deep: Freddie Freeman’s first-inning homer came off the bat at 102 mph and traveled 382 feet, according to Statcast™. The homer busted a 1-for-19 stretch for Freeman. After being held 0-for-11 against Colorado, Freeman came into Wednesday’s game 1-for-8 with four strikeouts against the Reds. He finished the game 1-for-4, striking out three times. Freeman’s jack was his first at Great American Ball Park. His 81 homerless plate appearances were the most he’s had at any park without going yard.
“This park’s a graveyard. Know what I mean?” Freeman said. “I’ve never in my career been swinging very well when I come into this park, and I was able to get one over there today.”
Votto’s homer in the seventh was his 16th of the season and second in three games. It also continued a very hot stretch for the first baseman. He has reached safely in 15 of his past 16 games (.565 on-base percentage) and he’s hit safely in all six games since the All-Star break, while batting .550 (11-for-20).
Harrell cruised through his first five innings, allowing three hits and just two men into scoring position. But in the sixth, he looked more like he did in his previous start, allowing four hits and four runs in the frame. The overall outing was better than his 3 2/3-inning, seven-run (five earned) performance against Colorado, but still a long way away from his first two starts, in which he had a 1.32 ERA over 13 2/3 innings.
The Braves travel to Colorado on Thursday to face the Rockies for the second time in their past three series. Mike Foltynewicz takes the mound in the 7:40 p.m. CT start. In his past outing, also against the Rockies, Foltynewicz allowed three runs in seven-plus innings and took a no-decision. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast, as part of the Atlanta Braves Radio Network, beginning at 6:30 PM.
