The Braves' offense has been in a bit of a slump lately, scoring no more than two runs since Friday evening. With no Chipper Jones, Brian McCann or Jason Heyward in the starting lineup, it was tough to see Atlanta winning on Wednesday night against the Reds.
Despite a strong pitching performance from Tommy Hanson, a popup from Todd Frazier sailed into the first row of seats at Great American Ballpark in the ninth inning to give Cincinnati a 2-1 victory, their third-straight over the Braves.
Hanson worked six innings and allowed just one run to score on four hits and two walks. He struck out five Reds, most of which came on his big 12-6 curveball. Bronson Arroyo was equally impressive on the mound, working 6.2 innings of one-run ball. Arroyo struck out seven and gave up just four hits and two walks.
Dan Uggla gave the Braves a lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run, a no-doubt shot to the upper deck of the park. The Reds then tied it up in the sixth on a bases loaded groundout from Jay Bruce. Cincinnati had two runners on and just one out in the eighth inning, but Eric O'Flaherty managed to induce a 4-6-3 double play from Bruce to end the threat.
Cristhian Martinez struck out the first batter he faced in the ninth inning, but Frazier managed to take a high fastball and hit it just far enough to sail into the right field seats.
The estimated distance on the game-winning homer: 355 feet. That's a flyout in just about every baseball stadium in America, folks.
The Braves will look to get back on track on Thursday night with Randall Delgado on the mound.
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