Rookie catcher Drake Baldwin singled in the 11th inning to lift the Braves to a 5-4 walk-off win against the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Thursday, Atlanta’s third victory of the four-game series.
Ozzie Albies, on second as the automatic runner, scored when Baldwin lined his two-out single to left off Reds reliever Taylor Rogers (1-1). It was Baldwin’s first career game-ending hit.
Reliever Scott Blewett (1-0) tossed scoreless 10th and 11th innings for the Braves, who have won four of their past five.
Jose Trevino went 3-for-4 with three doubles for Cincinnati, which has lost five of six.
The Reds took a 4-2 lead in the top of the ninth. After Trevino laced his third double, Jacob Hurtubise pinch-ran for him. It turned out not to be necessary as Rece Hinds knocked a two-run shot into the left-field upper deck off closer Jose Iglesias.
Atlanta tied it in the bottom half. Albies walked and Eddie Rosario ran for Sean Murphy, who singled. Eli White drove in Albies with a sacrifice bunt to narrow it to 4-3, and Michael Harris II singled to score Rosario and force extra innings.
The Braves took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Austin Riley knocked a one-out double down the left field line and Marcell Ozuna followed with a single. Matt Olson then drove in Riley with a sacrifice fly.
Braves starting pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach kept the Reds to one baserunner, a third-inning double by Hinds, through the first four innings before the Reds finally connected to tie it in the fifth. Spencer Steer and Santiago Espinal singled and Trevino doubled down the left field line to make it 1-1.
Schwellenbach went six innings and gave up five hits and one run while amassing six strikeouts and two walks.
Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo settled down after the opening frame, retiring 11 straight entering the fifth, when the Braves regained the lead. White connected on a bunt single, stole second and scored on Harris’ triple for a 2-1 advantage.
Lodolo also went six innings and allowed five hits and two runs while fanning seven and walking none.
Cincinnati tied it 2-2 in the seventh. Blake Dunn pinch-ran for Tyler Stephenson, who drew a walk. Trevino doubled and Hinds walked to load the bases with one out, ending reliever Rafael Montero’s brief outing. TJ Friedl singled to right field off Dylan Lee, driving in Dunn.
–Field Level Media
