The Cincinnati Reds’ 12-game win streak came to an end on Saturday in a 7-6 loss to the Atlanta Braves in game 2 of the series
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Cincinnati found themselves trailing 3-0 after 3 innings. The Reds would cut the deficit down to 1 in the bottom of the 3rd with a 2-run home run by Matt McClain to make it 3-2.
However, Atlanta had an answer. Austin Riley would knock one run in on a double, while Matt Olsen would bring 2 in on a two-run home run to make it a 6-2 advantage for the Braves.
The Reds would claw back into the game, beginning with a 2-run home run by Spencer Steer in the 4th to make it 6-4. Atlanta would score one more in the 7th to make it just a 3-run run game. Cincinnati would get themselves closer with solo home runs by Jake Fraley and Will Benson to cut the Braves’ lead down to one. Atlanta reliever Raisel Iglesias would stop the Reds’ comeback attempt short, striking out McClain and Jonathan India to end the game.
Graham Ashcraft dropped to 3-6 on the mound this season, allowing 6 earned runs on 10 hits in 4 innings.
Matt McClain went 2-5 with a home run and 2 RBI.
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Sunday’s game yielded another 7-6 loss for the host Reds. Cincinnati once again found themselves in a 3-0 hole. The Reds would fight back with one run scoring on a Spencer Steer double in the bottom of the 3rd inning. McClain would tie it up with a 2-RBI double in the 4th.
In the top of the 6th, the Braves would pull away again thanks to a 3-run blast by Matt Olsen, making it 6-3.
Cincinnati fought back in the 7th and 8th with McClain, homering in the 7th followed by knocking in 2-runs on a double to make it a 7-6 Braves lead. With the tying run on in the bottom of the ninth with 1 out, Kevin Newman would ground into a double play to end the game and to hand the Reds their second straight loss.
Matt McClain had a stellar game, batting 4-5 with 3 doubles, a home run, and 5 RBI.
The Reds record now sits at 41-37.
With Milwaukee’s win over Cleveland on Sunday, Cincinnati now leads the NL Central by just 0.5 a game.
Cincinnati heads to Baltimore on Monday to begin a 3-game set against the Orioles. Coverage on 103.9 WRBI begins at 6:35 pm.