Freddie Freeman becomes first Brave to hit for cycle since 2008
ATLANTA -- Freddie Freeman hit for the cycle, Chase d'Arnaud had a bases-loaded single in the 13th inning to cap a three-run rally and the Atlanta Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-8 on Wednesday night.
The Reds took an 8-6 lead in the 13th on Jose Peraza's bases-loaded walk with two outs and Joey Votto's run-scoring single off Alexi Ogando (2-1), the Braves' ninth pitcher.
Alfredo Simon (2-7) gave up five hits and a walk in the 13th. Adonis Garcia and Nick Markakis opened the inning with singles, Jace Peterson hit a run-scoring double and Tyler Flowers added a tying single. An intentional walk to Erick Aybar loaded the bases before d'Arnaud's fly ball fell in center field.
Freeman became the first Brave to hit for the cycle since Mark Kotsay against the Cubs on Aug. 14, 2008. He is also the first to do it in the majors this season.
Ogando walked Adam Duvall to open the 13th. Ivan De Jesus Jr.'s sacrifice bunt moved Duvall to second, and De Jesus was safe when second baseman Peterson dropped the throw from Freeman at first for an error. The runners advanced on another sacrifice by Tyler Holt.
An intentional walk to Tucker Barnhart loaded the bases for Peraza.
Freeman led off the 11th with a single to center field to complete his cycle. The Braves loaded the bases off Tony Cingrani with no outs in the inning but could not score.
Freeman's opposite-field homer into the first row of the left-field seats tied the game at 6-all in the sixth. Freeman also had a triple in the fourth and double in the third.
Aybar drove in three runs on three hits for Atlanta. Aybar hit a two-run double in the third inning and added a run-scoring single in the fifth.
De Jesus drove in three runs for the Reds.
Walk. It. Off. #ChopOn pic.twitter.com/zrXEpuhrkd
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 16, 2016
Reds right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, making only his second start of the season, was knocked out of the game in the third inning after giving up four runs, one earned, on six hits and three walks.
DeSclafani was hindered by first baseman Votto's off-target throw to the plate for an error on Peterson's bases-loaded grounder in the third. Freeman, who doubled, scored on the play.
Aybar hit a double into the left-center gap in front of a diving Duvall to drive in two runs, and DeSclafani was pulled after walking pitcher Bud Norris.
Norris left the game with a 5-3 lead after allowing three runs on three hits in five innings. Reliever Casey Kelly blew the lead before recording an out in the sixth. De Jesus had a two-run single.
A.J. Morris was lifted after a trainer examined his right shoulder in the fifth. The Reds provided no immediate update on his status.
WALK. IT. OFF. #ChopOn pic.twitter.com/8fjlMllj7f
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 16, 2016
2 FOR 2 ON REDS REVIEWS
The Reds appealed two calls that Braves baserunners were safe at first base -- Ender Inciarte in the fourth and Freeman in the 12th. Each call was overturned following brief reviews.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: OF Billy Hamilton, on the seven-day concussion DL, took his final tests and the results were sent to the Reds' team doctor and major league baseball for final clearance before he can be reinstated on Thursday. "What I do know is that he feels great," said manager Bryan Price before Hamilton took batting practice and caught fly balls.
UP NEXT
C Y C L E! pic.twitter.com/5n80izHpRW
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) June 16, 2016
Reds: RHP Dan Straily, who ranks fifth in the NL with a .199 batting average allowed, will make his first career start against Atlanta in Thursday's final game of the four-game series. Straily (4-2, 3.15 ERA) gave up one run in seven innings in a 2-1 win over Oakland in his last start on Saturday.
Braves: RHP Matt Wisler (2-6, 4.36) will try to snap a string of losses in four straight starts when he makes his first career start against the Reds. Wisler lasted only four innings in each of his first two starts in June and allowed a combined 13 runs.
