Cincinnati Reds Lose 6-5 to Rockies on Walk-Off Wild Pitch

Jul 24, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; A Cincinnati Reds hat on top of third base in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

W: Axford (3-3, 3.38)

L: Mattheus (1-2, 4.13)

By now it feels like nothing can go right for the Cincinnati Reds. This was certainly a winnable game, and the Reds had every opportunity to walk away from Coors Field with a W. It was an exciting back and forth game, that ultimately ended with Reds fans shaking their heads in dispair.

The night started well enough for the Reds, who took an early 3-0 lead over the Colorado Rockies in the third inning. Brandon Phillips started the inning with a lead off double, and was driven in by  Todd Frazier. Marlon Byrd walked later in the inning, and both Frazier and Byrd were driven in by a Ivan De Jesus double.

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The Reds weren’t able to hold onto their lead for long, after Anthony DeSclafani gave up two runs in the fifth inning on five hits, then gave up a solo home run to Carlos Gonzalez in the sixth inning, tying the game. It should be noted that up until this point, DeSclafani was pitching very well and had a no-hitter going through the first four innings, only giving up two walks.

In the eighth inning with the game tied at three, the Reds retook the lead when Byrd led off with a triple and was brought home off of a Skip Schumaker ground-rule double.

Not to be outdone, the Rockies scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth, both off of J.J. Hoover in what was probably his worst outing of the year. In one inning, Hoover allowed three hits (including a triple and another Gonzalez home run) and gave the Rockies a 5-4 lead.

The Reds managed a comeback of sorts in the ninth inning when Joey Votto tied the game with his 18th home run of the year. But in the bottom of the ninth the Rockies would take the lead for a final time when Charlie Blackmon scored off of a wild pitch from Ryan Mattheus, giving the Rockies a 6-5 win.

Other Notes:

• Joey Votto collected his fourth straight multi-hit game tonight and his sixth multi-hit game since the All-Star break, hitting two singles and a home run.
• Tucker Barnhart reached base in every one of his plate appearances, hitting one single, then being intentionally walked three times.
• The Reds collectively hit seven extra-base hits tonight with five doubles, one triple and one home run.

Up Next: The Cincinnati Reds will play game two of this three game series against the Rockies when they send their ace Johnny Cueto to the mound for possibly the last time against Chris Rusin. First pitch is scheduled for 8:10 p.m. EST.

Next: Should Jay Bruce be traded?