MILWAUKEE (AP) - In command through six innings, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani looked to nail down his first win since late August.
Things quickly turned sour in the seventh for DeSclafani against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night. He left after loading the bases with no outs. All three runners would eventually score in the inning as the Brewers rallied for a 5-4 victory.
“(DeSclafani) was so good, so efficient, very few mistakes in those first six innings,” Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. “He was the right guy to be out there. It was a tough way to lose.”
An angry DeSclafani had little to say after the game.
“I guess it just got away from me. I just (was bad) there in that seventh inning,” he said.
Chris Carter homered, Ryan Braun delivered a late clutch hit and the Brewers turned their second triple play of the season.
Carter hit his 38th home run of the season, a career high, leading off the second against DeSclafani (8-4).
In the first inning, Jose Peraza singled under the glove of Milwaukee third baseman Jonathan Villar and Scott Schebler reached on an error by Villar. With the runners in motion, Joey Votto hit a shot down the first base line off Zach Davies that Carter snagged, taking away an extra base hit. Carter stepped on first and then lobbed a throw to shortstop Orlando Arcia, who stepped on second for the third out.
Price said the runners were in motion in an effort to provide a much-needed offensive spark.
“The one thing that can’t happen is hitting a line drive right at an infielder,” he said.
The Brewers turned a triple play at home on April 29 against Miami and have eight in franchise history.
Peraza put the Reds in front with a three-run homer, his third of the season, with one out in the fifth.
The Brewers scored in the sixth on Carter’s RBI groundout to cut the lead to 3-2.
After the Brewers loaded the bases off DeSclafani, Scooter Gennett drew a walk off reliever Tony Cingrani to tie the score. Milwaukee regained the lead when Braun followed with a two-run single off Blake Wood.
Brent Suter (2-1) retired the only batter he faced to get the victory.
Tyler Thornburg gave up a run in the ninth but notched his 13th save in 18 tries.
GROWING PAINS
With about half of their starts over the last two years made by rookies, the Reds have faced challenges in remaining mentally sharp, Price said. “Sometimes it’s how you lose,” he said. “If you are down frequently early enough, which was the case last year, it’s a challenge to get guys excited to come to the ballpark and play when you are down by three or four or five runs after three innings on a consistent basis. We haven’t had that problem as much this year, but we’ve still been challenged somewhat by the lack of pitching depth in our system.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: Price said LHP Brandon Finnegan will start the series finale on Sunday. RHP Homer Bailey (biceps) had been considered after throwing a bullpen session on Tuesday. “I’m just not ready to commit that (Bailey) is in the rotation,” Price said. “We just haven’t gotten to that point yet.”
Brewers: Pinch-hitter Jake Elmore appeared to get hit on the left hand while attempting to bunt in the fifth inning. He then stumbled out of the box and fell to the ground. He gingerly hopped on one leg after getting up before slowly walking off the field with a team trainer at his side.
UP NEXT
Reds: Dan Straily (13-8, 3.83 ERA) is 2-0 with a 1.77 ERA in three starts against the Brewers this season. Straily has nine wins since the All-Star break, tied for the most in the National League.
Brewers: Taylor Jungmann (0-4, 8.34) will make his first start since being recalled from Double-A Biloxi on Sept. 6. Jungmann, whose last start for the Brewers came on April 28, is 0-7 with a 9.35 ERA over his last 10 starts for Milwaukee.
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