October 18, 2024
ATLANTA (AP) — Sean Murphy hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Atlanta Braves recovered after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth to beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 on Monday night.
Murphy blasted the first pitch from Derek Law (0-2) to center field for his third hit of the game, driving in designated runner Austin Riley. Atlanta snapped a three-game skid.
Jonathan India opened the 10th inning for the Reds with a single to right field off Dylan Lee (1-0), driving in designated runner Jose Barrero from second base for a 4-3 lead.
Braves fill-in closer A.J. Minter blew a 3-1 lead in the ninth, wasting a strong start by rookie Bryce Elder.
Minter allowed three straight hits and two runs before recording an out. Wil Myers reached on a single before pinch-hitter Stuart Fairchild’s drive to left field was deflected by Kevin Pillar, who tried to make a leaping grab over the wall and knocked the ball back to the warning track. Myers scored as Fairchild raced to third.
Spencer Steer’s bloop single drove in Fairchild to tie the game.
Murphy drove in the game's first run with a double in the sixth inning.
Elder allowed six hits in 6 1/3 innings and left the game with a 1-0 lead. He had seven strikeouts and one walk.
Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft was pulled after he walked Orlando Arcia to open the seventh. Ashcraft allowed two runs on six hits and three walks.
Arcia moved to third on a two-out single by Ronald Acuña Jr., who had three hits, off Buck Farmer. Left-hander Reiver Sanmartin walked Matt Olson to load the bases before throwing a wild pitch that allowed Arcia to score with a head-first slide across the plate.
The Reds scored a run off right-hander Nick Anderson in the eighth. Jonathan India doubled and scored on Jake Fraley's two-out single to right field.
Arcia had a single off Sanmartin in the eighth that drove in Ozzie Albies.
