Mesoraco’s Walk-Off Double Gives Cincinnati Reds 4-3 Win Over Braves

61. . 3. 17. 4

W: Aroldis Chapman (2-2)

L: Jason Grilli (0-2)

While Devin Mesoraco has been limited to a pinch hitting role for the last month, Brayan Pena has stepped up and performed admirably as they everyday catcher. Both played a critical role in the Cincinnati Reds’ 4-3 walk-off win over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.

With the game tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the ninth, Pena — who scored the game-tying run in the seventh on Marlon Byrd‘s sacrifice fly — lined a one-out single to right to get the rally started. Pitcher Michael Lorenzen pinch ran for Pena and Mesoraco pinch hit in the pitcher’s spot. Mesoraco wasted no time, lining the first pitch he saw from Jason Grilli down the left field line to score Lorenzen from first and move the Reds back to one game under .500 at 16-17.

Before Mesoraco settled the score in the ninth, the teams went back-and-forth all game long.

Todd Frazier got the scoring started in the first with a two-run home run — his 11th of the year.

Reds’ starter Anthony DeSclafani kept the Braves off the scoreboard until the third, when he gave up three consecutive one-out hits, the third being an RBI double by Kelly Johnson. Next batter Alberto Callaspo hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game up at two.

The Braves grabbed the lead in the fourth on a run-scoring double by Nick Markakis, but DeSclafani was able to settle down after that and made it through the sixth inning without any further damage being done.

Once DeSclafani left the game, the bullpen was able to blank the Braves offense, as a combination of J.J. Hoover, Jumbo Diaz, and Aroldis Chapman kept the game tied. Chapman wound up taking a decision in a third consecutive game, but luckily for him, it was a win this time.

Other Notes:

Brandon Phillips left the game in the eighth inning with a toe injury. No further details have been released on the extent of the injury.
With a 3-for-4 night, Pena has now recorded hits in 18 of his 23 games this season, including 14 of his last 16.
The Reds have been highly successful stealing bases this season (39-for-42 entering this game), but were caught twice (Billy Hamilton and Jay Bruce) in Tuesday’s game.

Up Next: The Reds and Braves conclude their three-game series on Wednesday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Raisel Iglesias (0-0, 5.40 ERA) will be called up to make his second career start (if I had to guess, I’d say that Pedro Villarreal gets sent down in the corresponding move) while Eric Stults (1-3, 4.84 ERA) will toe the rubber for the Braves.

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