When Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani threw this 2-2 pitch to the Braves’ Adonis Garcia in the third inning of Wednesday’s Reds-Braves game at Turner Field, he probably didn’t think it would be anywhere near the strike zone.
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Atlanta Braves’ Freddie Freeman scores on a Jace Peterson ground ball to third base as Cincinnati Reds catcher Ramon Cabrera dives to attempt a tag during the third inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 15, 2016, in Atlanta.
The cycle comes as this season’s first and the first for the Braves since Mark Kotsay did it in 2008 against the Chicago Cubs.
Freeman struck out in the first inning, but then hit a double in the third and later scored to give the Braves a 2-0 lead.
He is the first Atlanta hitter to hit for the cycle since Mark Kotsay against the Cubs on August 14, 2008. He has been outstanding in his first two June starts, beating Oakland on Saturday with one run allowed on five hits in seven innings, and getting a no-decision after limiting Washington to two runs on two hits in seven frames on June 4.
The Reds threatened in the top of the 13th inning as they loaded the bases off of Alexei Ogando for Jose Peraza, who promptly walked in a run.
“It would have meant nothing if we didn’t win”, Freeman said.
De Jesus drove in three runs for the Reds.
The hit capped a five-hour, 18-minute marathon that saw the Braves finish 7-for-25 with runners in scoring position.
Cincinnati scored two runs in the 13th inning to take the lead before Alfredo Simon gave up three runs in the bottom of the inning as the Reds fell to the Atlanta Braves 9-8 on Wednesday night.
“For entertainment value, that had to be one of the great performances of the year”, Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said.
Casey Kelly relieved Bud Norris in the sixth inning and after Adonis Garcia looked like the old Adonis Garcia at third with an error, Kelly gave up a single, a double, and another single and just like that the Braves were behind 6-5 before recording an out.
Morris had to leave the game with an injury after he walked Jace Peterson to start the fifth inning.
The Braves’ first pick, right-hander Ian Anderson of Clifton Park, New York, is not eligible to sign before he graduates from high school on June 23. He nearly had an infield hit in the 12th, but replay overturned first base umpire Jim Joyce’s safe call at first base.
The Reds won the first two games of the four-game series and had won nine of 13. Each call was overturned following brief reviews. Freeman went four-for-seven, scoring two runs and driving in one.
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Reds: OF Billy Hamilton, on the seven-day concussion DL, took his final tests and the results were sent to the Reds’ team doctor and major league baseball for final clearance before he can be reinstated on Thursday. The starting pitchers on Thursday will be Cincinnati RHP Dan Straily (4-2, 3.15) vs. Atlanta RHP Matt Wisler (2-7, 4.36).
