Cincinnati Reds Make Late Comeback, But Fall to Indians in Extra Innings

W: Marc Rzepczynski (2-3)

L: Pedro Villarreal (1-3)

SV: Zach McAllister (1)

Despite a late-inning rally, the Cincinnati Reds fell to the Cleveland Indians in extra innings on Sunday, marking the team’s fifth loss in six games against their Ohio rivals this season.

Erratic pitching from the Reds played a big part in the loss, as they issued a whopping 10 walks on the day and four of the Indians’ five runs in the game came on bases loaded free passes.

In what could be his final start in Great American Ball Park as a Red, Johnny Cueto gave up six bases on balls and both runs scored against him were walked in. The right-hander was removed after just four innings, with his pitch count sitting at 94.

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Meanwhile, the Reds couldn’t get much going against Indians starter Carlos Carrasco. Eugenio Suarez‘s second inning solo home run was the only time the Reds scored against Carrasco, who allowed just four hits in six innings.

The Indians added another run in the sixth to go up 3-1, when Ryan Mattheus loaded the bases and Manny Parra walked another run in.

The Reds managed to stay in the game, however, as the Indians couldn’t capitalize on the absurd amount of walks, and a pair of two-out rallies in the eighth and ninth innings allowed the home team to tie things. In the eighth, Brandon Phillips singled with two outs, moved to second on a walk to Ivan De Jesus Jr., and scored when Joey Votto lined a single up the middle. The Reds were then down to their final out in the ninth, but Suarez doubled to center field to keep the game alive and Jason Bourgeois brought him home on a single to knot the game up at three.

But walks would ultimately do in the Reds, as Pedro Villarreal gave up three straight one-out singles in the 11th and walked another run in to put the Indians back in front. The Indians would add another run on a sacrifice fly from Jason Kipnis and could’ve added another, but Bourgeois threw Brandon Moss out at the plate trying to score on a Francisco Lindor single.

Other Notes:

• Aroldis Chapman pitched the ninth and 10th innings, the first time he’s pitched two innings since August 22 of last season. He struck out five on the day to make him the fastest pitcher in history to reach 500 career strikeouts.
• The only Reds pitchers to not issue a walk were Jumbo Diaz and J.J. Hoover, who each threw scoreless innings.
• With only Tucker Barnhart left on the bench, De Jesus was forced to leave the game in the top of the 11th with an injury. As a result, Barnhart played right field for the first time in his career, Phillips moved to shortstop, Skip Schumaker was moved to second base, and Suarez replaced De Jesus at third base.

Up Next: The Cubs will come to Great American Ball Park on Monday to begin a four-game series with the Reds. Michael Lorenzen will get the ball for the opener and will be opposed by Clayton Richard. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. EST.

Next: Reds should not extend Todd Frazier