SAN DIEGO –– The Cincinnati Reds had already done the improbable, scoring four runs in the ninth inning against one of the best closers in MLB. On Thursday night against the San Diego Padres, the Reds were three outs away from a ninth inning comeback led by their two rookies.
The Reds bullpen couldn't put away the game in the ninth.
While Cincinnati entered the bottom half of the inning with a two-run lead, relievers Ryan Hendrix and Amir Garrett allowed four runs in the ninth as the Reds lost to the Padres, 6-4.
Padres catcher Victor Caratini hit a walk-off homer to left field off Garrett to break the Reds six-game winning streak.
In the top of the ninth, the Reds had a comeback that would have been remarkable had it lasted.
Padres closer Mark Melancon entered the game with a 0.64 ERA and an MLB leading 19 saves. He had the Reds down to their last strike on Thursday night. And then on consecutive at-bats, rookie catcher Tyler Stephenson hit a game-tying RBI single and rookie second baseman Jonathan India hit a two-run home run.
The Reds didn’t score until there were two outs in the ninth, but the rookies struck at the last second to lead Cincinnati to a 4-2 lead over the Padres.
Starting pitcher Wade Miley gave the Reds a shot at a win by allowing just two runs over seven innings, and the Reds offense delivered in the ninth.
Then the Padres took the lead back against the Reds bullpen.
Hendrix walked Padres third baseman Manny Machado, and first baseman Eric Hosmer crushed a homer to right field that tied the score at four runs. Garrett entered the game after that and allowed a single and a homer.
The Padres broke the Reds six-game winning streak, and Cincinnati lost on a walk-off hit for the first time this season.
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