Past, present and future a part of Reds' win over Dodgers
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
On a day to honor and celebrate the career of former two-time MVP Joe Morgan and the reuniting of the "Great 8" from the Big Red Machine, it was the current group of Cincinnati Reds who were a well-oiled "machine" when they needed to be, as a bit of the present and future of the Reds won 4-3 in 10 innings as the past was there to watch on.
The Reds (81-62) came alive in the 10th with their future on the base paths with pinch-runner Billy Hamilton entering the game for Ryan Ludwick, who forced a lead-off walk.
With Hamilton on first, the speedy outfielder stole second base and scored off a line drive base hit to right field by Todd Frazier, sealing a perfect day of baseball in front of a sellout crowd at Great American Ball Park.
"It has been an exciting week," Hamilton said. "I had to do my job. That's what I'm here for, to come in late like this and come through for the team.
"I had a good jump, and I knew I had a chance (to score). When the crowd goes wild, it just pumps me up … I'm excited to be here and help the team."
Frazier talked about the final at-bat.
"You just have to forget about what has happened during the year and just keep striving to get better," Frazier said. "It's a long season, and people have to understand that. It's been a fun month so far for the Reds.
"He (Hamilton) could probably score from an infield single … but at the same time, I was just trying to get him over. We know he is fast."
Hamilton also spoke about being in the middle of a September pennant race, as a couple weeks ago he was playing in the International League in AAA.
"It feels good," Hamilton said. "It's the big leagues and having a chance to get to the playoffs … I'm here to help any way possible and to do my job. Just do what I can to help the team."
The win was manager Dusty Baker's 500th in a Reds uniform, as the Reds improved to a season-high 19 games over .500. Cincinnati is also 5-1 in their past six games.
Though the Reds won, it was the Dodgers who struck first by putting Latos and the Reds in a situation they didn't need or want to be in to start the game.
Latos retired leadoff batter Carl Crawford with ease but followed that with a walk to Yasiel Puig and a single to right field by Adrian Gonzalez. From there, Hanley Ramirez singled in Puig for the 1-0 lead, as Latos managed to get out of a jam with a force out at home and a line out to right field.
Cincinnati answered with two runs of their own in their half of the first with Cesar Izturis and Joey Votto scoring runs off base hits by Jay Bruce and Ryan Ludwick for the 2-1 advantage.
The Reds' lead lasted very briefly with the Dodgers' Puig answering with a two-run, two out hem run to left field in the top of the third as he score A.J. Ellis who was one second base. Ellis reached the bases with a lead-off single.
L.A. moves to 83-58 overall.
Cincinnati had their opportunities to plate tying and go-ahead runs, and none greater than the bottom of the fifth, but they were unable to capitalize.
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In the fifth, the Reds started off strong with Shin-Soo Choo reaching first with a one-out single to centerfield, followed by Izturis perfecting a hit-and-run as he was safe at first. Votto battled at the plate against Zack Greinke, eventually forcing a walk to load the bases with one out.
From there, the Reds' rally hit bottom with Bruce and Ludwick striking out swinging to end the inning with the bases loaded.
Izturis and Shin-Soo Choo put the Reds on their back, tying the game at 3-3 in the seventh inning with a one-out double by Izturis to the corner of the left field wall, scoring Choo from first base.
But like multiple times throughout Saturday afternoon, the Reds were unable to capitalize, leaving two runners stranded.
Izturis finished the day 3-for-5.
"I thought he was going to win the game in the ninth," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "Everybody is a star for a day, because they were stars from where they came from. It just now they are amongst a lot of stars, and they just don't shine as bright.
"Everybody was a star, all the guys on the field."
Both starters, Latos and Greinke, earned a no-decision. Latos, for the Reds, went seven innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits, one walk, one hit batter and one home run with three strikeouts.
"That's what he's supposed to do," Baker said of Latos when he doesn't have his best stuff. "That's what we get paid to do (to battle), and he's learned how to do that, to pitch without his best stuff.
"He's got to stay healthy, because he's got to get better and better."
Greinke pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and one walk. He struck out nine.
GAME NOTES: Latos pitched 106 pitches, 70 for strikes … Greinke also had 106 pitches, 72 for strikes … Brandon Phillips had the day off … four of the last five games between the Dodgers and Reds have been decided by one run … L.A. is 19-5 in Greinke's last 24 starts … Bruce tied a career-high in assists with his 11th of the season … Choo has reached base safely in 14 straight games … Cozart has a 12-game hitting streak.
The Reds (81-62) came alive in the 10th with their future on the base paths with pinch-runner Billy Hamilton entering the game for Ryan Ludwick, who forced a lead-off walk.
With Hamilton on first, the speedy outfielder stole second base and scored off a line drive base hit to right field by Todd Frazier, sealing a perfect day of baseball in front of a sellout crowd at Great American Ball Park.
"It has been an exciting week," Hamilton said. "I had to do my job. That's what I'm here for, to come in late like this and come through for the team.
"I had a good jump, and I knew I had a chance (to score). When the crowd goes wild, it just pumps me up … I'm excited to be here and help the team."
Frazier talked about the final at-bat.
"You just have to forget about what has happened during the year and just keep striving to get better," Frazier said. "It's a long season, and people have to understand that. It's been a fun month so far for the Reds.
"He (Hamilton) could probably score from an infield single … but at the same time, I was just trying to get him over. We know he is fast."
Hamilton also spoke about being in the middle of a September pennant race, as a couple weeks ago he was playing in the International League in AAA.
"It feels good," Hamilton said. "It's the big leagues and having a chance to get to the playoffs … I'm here to help any way possible and to do my job. Just do what I can to help the team."
The win was manager Dusty Baker's 500th in a Reds uniform, as the Reds improved to a season-high 19 games over .500. Cincinnati is also 5-1 in their past six games.
Though the Reds won, it was the Dodgers who struck first by putting Latos and the Reds in a situation they didn't need or want to be in to start the game.
Latos retired leadoff batter Carl Crawford with ease but followed that with a walk to Yasiel Puig and a single to right field by Adrian Gonzalez. From there, Hanley Ramirez singled in Puig for the 1-0 lead, as Latos managed to get out of a jam with a force out at home and a line out to right field.
Cincinnati answered with two runs of their own in their half of the first with Cesar Izturis and Joey Votto scoring runs off base hits by Jay Bruce and Ryan Ludwick for the 2-1 advantage.
The Reds' lead lasted very briefly with the Dodgers' Puig answering with a two-run, two out hem run to left field in the top of the third as he score A.J. Ellis who was one second base. Ellis reached the bases with a lead-off single.
L.A. moves to 83-58 overall.
Cincinnati had their opportunities to plate tying and go-ahead runs, and none greater than the bottom of the fifth, but they were unable to capitalize.
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In the fifth, the Reds started off strong with Shin-Soo Choo reaching first with a one-out single to centerfield, followed by Izturis perfecting a hit-and-run as he was safe at first. Votto battled at the plate against Zack Greinke, eventually forcing a walk to load the bases with one out.
From there, the Reds' rally hit bottom with Bruce and Ludwick striking out swinging to end the inning with the bases loaded.
Izturis and Shin-Soo Choo put the Reds on their back, tying the game at 3-3 in the seventh inning with a one-out double by Izturis to the corner of the left field wall, scoring Choo from first base.
But like multiple times throughout Saturday afternoon, the Reds were unable to capitalize, leaving two runners stranded.
Izturis finished the day 3-for-5.
"I thought he was going to win the game in the ninth," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "Everybody is a star for a day, because they were stars from where they came from. It just now they are amongst a lot of stars, and they just don't shine as bright.
"Everybody was a star, all the guys on the field."
Both starters, Latos and Greinke, earned a no-decision. Latos, for the Reds, went seven innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits, one walk, one hit batter and one home run with three strikeouts.
"That's what he's supposed to do," Baker said of Latos when he doesn't have his best stuff. "That's what we get paid to do (to battle), and he's learned how to do that, to pitch without his best stuff.
"He's got to stay healthy, because he's got to get better and better."
Greinke pitched six innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits and one walk. He struck out nine.
GAME NOTES: Latos pitched 106 pitches, 70 for strikes … Greinke also had 106 pitches, 72 for strikes … Brandon Phillips had the day off … four of the last five games between the Dodgers and Reds have been decided by one run … L.A. is 19-5 in Greinke's last 24 starts … Bruce tied a career-high in assists with his 11th of the season … Choo has reached base safely in 14 straight games … Cozart has a 12-game hitting streak.