Mistakes, wild pitches cost Reds in extra-inning loss to Yankees

For the second night in a row, the Cincinnati Reds had a late-inning thriller against the powerful New York Yankees. Unlike last night, however, it did not take the Reds long to get started. Leading 1-0 going into the 2nd inning, the trio of Kyle Farmer, Mike Moustakas, and Stuart Fairchild went back to back to back to give the Reds a 4-0 lead.

Unfortunately disaster would strike for the Reds in the bottom of the 3rd, as the Yankees took advantage of some poor defending to take a 5-4 lead. With an out and 2 runners on, Anthony Rizzo would hit what seemed to be a double play ball straight at Jonathan India. However, India misplayed the ball, which rolled into right field to score Joey Gallo. After a quick out, a Gleyber Torres single would score DJ Lemahieu and cut the lead to 4-2. A walk to Josh Donaldson would load the bases, paving the way for Isiah Kiner-Falefa to hit a bases-clearing double to give the Yankees the 5-4 lead.

The Reds were able to retake the lead in the top of the 5th. A double by Jonathan India and a walk by Brandon Drury would get things started for the Reds in the inning. After a Tommy Pham strikeout, Joey Votto would drive one to left center that bounced over the wall to score India. A Tyler Stephenson sacrifice fly would bring in Drury and the Reds led 6-5. The score remained that way until the bottom of the 8th thanks to some solid pitching out of the bullpen. Unfortunately, Giancarlo Stanton hit a fly ball to right that barely cleared the wall, and likely wouldn’t have anywhere else, to tie the game at 6 apiece.

After missing multiple chances in the 9th and extras, Alexis Diaz threw 2 consecutive wild pitches, allowing the ghost runner to score from 2nd. Reds lose, 7-6

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Reds pitching retired 16 of 17 batters from the bottom of the 4th until the bottom of the 9th. Unfortunately that 1 was Giancarlo Stanton’s bomb.
• Speaking of, this hurts a little:

• Mike Minor only lasted 4 innings in his start tonight, but he was certainly not helped out by his defense. His final line: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K.
• The Reds can still take the series tomorrow as they send Luis Castillo (3-4, 2.92 ERA) to the hill in his last start before the All-Star Break. He’ll face off against Nestor Cortes (7-3, 2.74 ERA). First pitch is at 7:05 PM EDT.