Reds lose to Atlanta 7-2, wave goodbye to Turner Field with series split

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Joey Votto has seemingly found his wallet since the calendar flipped to June, and his resurgence was again on display for the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.  Votto smacked three singles and drew a walk against the Atlanta Braves - his first three hit game of the 2016 season - and in the process raised his season line to .248/.377/.443 (.820 OPS).  On a day devoid of much else of note, that's trophy worthy

Honorable Mentions are due to:  Adam Duvall, who thumped his 19th dinger of the season; Dayan Diaz, who tossed 2.2 innings of zero earned run ball just hours after getting off a plane from Louisville; and Jose Peraza, who singled and stole a pair of bases.

Key Plays

• The Reds scored first in this matinee, as Cozart scooted around to score after his leadoff single, a subsequent Votto walk, and an RBI single from Phillips in the Top of the 1st.  Reds led, 1-0.
• Duvall doubled that lead in the Top of the 3rd with a solo homer that landed well up the seats beyond the wall in LF.  Reds led, 2-0.
• Atlanta jumped in front in the Bottom of the 3rd, however, small-balling their way to one run before big-balling their way to two more.  A leadoff double by Chase d'Arnaud started things, and he later scored on a Mallex Smith single after Matt Wisler sac bunted him to 3B.  Then, after a pop out and Smith stolen base, Freddie Freeman belted a 2-run dinger to right-center field.  Reds trailed, 3-2.
• Dan Straily ran into more trouble in the Bottom of the 5th, and it was enough to sink the Reds and end Straily's afternoon.  He walked Smith and Ender Inciarte to leadoff the inning, both of whom eventually came in to score after a double steal and a 2-run double off the bat of Nick Markakis.  An Adonis Garcia single chased Straily and left runners on the corners, and Markakis then scooted home on a Jace Peterson sac fly. Reds trailed, 6-2.
• The Cincinnati defense was behind the next Atlanta run, as a grounder right at Zack Cozart at SS would've been the final out of the Bottom of the 7th had Cozy not thrown wide of BP at 2B and into RF for the attempted force play.  Peterson then singled to RF, and Freeman - who was on base yet again - came around to score. After that, the Reds' bats stayed silent, and that was that. Reds lost, 7-2.

Tony Graphanino

Source: FanGraphs

Other Notes

• Prior to this one, the Reds placed AJ Morris on the 15-day DL and recalled RHP Dayan Diaz from Louisville. Morris exited last night's game with obvious discomfort in his right (throwing) shoulder.
• Duvall exited early from this one in a double switch despite the Reds trailing by three runs.  We haven't completely learned the story behind the move, but there's been at least some talk that the heat and humidity paired with Duvall's diabetes may have been enough to sap his energy.
• The loss today ended the final Reds series in Turner Field as a split.  The next time Cincinnati travels to play the Braves, it will take place in Cobb County at Waffle House Field at Bojangles Park.
• The Reds head to Houston later today, and they'll tangle with the Astros for a weekend set.  John Lamb will start for Cincinnati in Game 1 tomorrow, with first pitch set for 8:10 PM ET.
• Tunes.