After the Cincinnati Reds lost their first six games of their season series against the San Diego Padres in nearly every way imaginable, they did the improbable Thursday.
Kyle Farmer hammered a game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, connecting on a cutter that didn’t cut, and Tyler Stephenson hit a walk-off single to give the Reds a stunning 5-4 victory at Great American Ball Park in front of 16,620 fans.
Stephenson flipped his bat when he saw the ball headed down the right-field line, then pumped his fist and let out a yell after he touched first base as he saw his teammates running after him.
More:Cincinnati Reds outfielders Nick Castellanos, Jesse Winker named All-Star Game starters
"Let me tell you, he’s going to have a really good career, and it’s because there’s no moment that’s too big for him," Nick Castellanos said of Stephenson. "He just gets one clutch hit after another, and he’s been doing it from the moment he put a big-league uniform on. I can’t say that I was the same as a rookie, so to be able to come and to be that calm in these kinds of moments, those are the intangibles that nobody can teach."
Things were lined up for more heartbreak. The Reds left a season-high 15 runners on base through the first eight innings, at least one in each inning. The Padres scored a go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth inning when third baseman Alejo Lopez bounced a throw to first on a routine grounder.
Lopez experienced all the highs and lows that the game has to offer. He hit four singles and scored twice. He was also picked off first base and grounded into a double play in his fifth at-bat with two runners on base.
When he returned to the dugout after his error, Jesse Winker patted him on the back and Votto, who tried to pick the spiked throw on a short hop, chatted with Lopez as they studied the pitcher for their next at-bat.
The Padres had won their last 88 games when they had a lead entering the ninth inning until Thursday.
Closer Mark Melancon, who leads the National League with 25 saves, couldn’t hold off the Reds. After Farmer’s game-tying blast – his sixth homer of the season – pinch-hitter Tucker Barnhart worked a walk. Jonathan India followed with a line drive into left field, which Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar dropped as he fell to the ground.
Jesse Winker grounded into a fielder’s choice with an out at the plate. The Padres intentionally walked Nick Castellanos to bring up Stephenson. The rookie delivered his second walk-off hit of the season.
"It might sound funny being the manager," David Bell said, "but I love watching our team play. I love watching them enjoy it and go out and find ways to do everything they can to win games."
It was the second time Thursday that the Padres walked Castellanos to face Stephenson with the bases loaded. It worked in the second inning when Stephenson flew out to center. Joey Votto asked Stephenson what he thought about it afterward and Stephenson responded that it is what it is.
"(Votto) was like, ‘no, you have to take that personally. They don’t think you’re as good or anything like that,'" Stephenson said. "Sure enough, it comes up again and I make them pay for it."
More:Cincinnati Reds notebook: Michael Lorenzen begins rehab assignment; Suárez sits again
The Reds and Padres played seven times this season and six of those games were decided by two or fewer runs.
Starting pitcher Luis Castillo didn't earn a winning decision, but he pitched a lot better than the box score suggests. He carried a no-hitter through four innings, then as luck would have it against the Padres, he had to sit in a 52-minute rain delay.
Castillo still managed to complete 6 1/3 innings and throw 103 pitches, including 56 following the delay.
"Man, that was the key," Reds manager David Bell said. "It’s a totally different game if he can’t go back."
More:Reds notes: Pitching coach Derek Johnson discusses Luis Castillo's mid-season turnaround
Castillo, who had a 1.71 ERA in five June starts, was electric for most of the night. He threw a 100-mph fastball in the first inning, his hardest pitch of the season, and was still throwing 99 mph in the seventh.
He didn't have a perfect ending. The Padres loaded the bases in the seventh inning with two singles and a walk. With a two-run lead, Bell opted to leave Castillo on the mound against pinch-hitter Tommy Pham.
Castillo had Pham in a 1-2 count, but Pham responded with a full-count, two-run single to tie the game. Pham had 11 hits in 21 at-bats against the Reds this season.
"We’ve been right there with them and I felt like nothing has gone our way," Stephenson said. "It felt good to kind of have something go our way for once. It says a lot that we can compete with them. We just need to have faith in ourselves and have the confidence that we can compete with one of the best teams in baseball.”
More:What Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto's 1000th career RBI meant to him
Padres left-hander Ryan Weathers made his first career start at Great American Ball Park. He spent several years of his childhood in the ballpark when his dad, David, pitched for the Reds from 2005-09. The proud dad watched from the stands.
Many people vividly remember David throwing batting practice to his young son in the outfield grass behind second base every home game. Ryan, not even 10 years old, crushed homers into the seats, over the eight-foot-tall wall.
“I remember him in the clubhouse, hitting on the field, a big smile on his face, going in and having a slushy and a burger,” Joey Votto said. “Playing catch with his dad. Hanging out in the cage. I mean, they brought such good energy and he was such a good kid. He used to slip-and-slide in the shower area. They used to have water, soap and slide across the tile.”
Weathers allowed two runs in four innings before the rain delay. He met his dad on the field afterward and he signed autographs for fans along the third-base line.
Source link
