'That play needs to be made': Dunn consoled by teammates after costly error

CINCINNATI – On a Friday night vs. the Diamondbacks where the Reds missed numerous chances to cash in on scoring opportunities, the consequences landed hardest in the top of the ninth inning when they were on defense.

Left fielder Blake Dunn flubbed a sinking line drive for a two-out error that scored the go-ahead run during a 5-2 loss at Great American Ball Park.

Dunn, who has made several strong defensive plays since he was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on May 3, including a couple of game-saving catches, was consoled by teammates after the game. That included reliever Tejay Antone, who put his arm around him at his locker.

“A lot of them told me to just keep my head up," Dunn said. "It doesn’t come down to one play that you lose on. A moment like that, I carry myself to a high standard and especially on defense, that play needs to be made.”

It was a 2-2 game in the ninth inning when reliever Brock Burke walked Gabriel Moreno with one out. There were two outs when Ildemaro Vargas was intentionally walked.

One strike from the Reds being out of the inning, Geraldo Perdomo hit a liner to left field. Dunn took a couple of steps back before adjusting and looping back in. The ball skipped off his glove as Moreno scored.

“It had some topspin-hook to it off the end of the bat. I got a bad read, bad route off the beginning and kind of banana-ed it and wasn’t able to make up the ground," Dunn said. "And it was an awkward flight so I couldn’t slide. In the moment, I didn’t feel like I could get underneath it and slide. Just put me in a tough spot to make that play, but it can’t happen.”

"I thought he recovered good," manager Terry Francona said. "And then it was like, almost thigh-high and just kind of handcuffed him a little bit.”

The majority of Dunn's games this season have either been in right field or center field. Friday was just his second start in left field.

“He hasn’t been out there. That’s the least of the places. I still think he’s a good outfielder," Francona said.

The inning compounded when Jordan Lawlar followed with a two-run single to center field to put the game away for Arizona.

Cincinnati, now a season-high four games under .500 at 32-36, has dropped 11 of its last 14 games. That includes a 2-8 record since Elly De La Cruz went on the injured list June 1.

Getting players to step up and produce without De La Cruz has been a challenge. Over the last 14 games, the Reds have been outscored, 78-45, while going 17-for-118 (.144) with runners in scoring position. On Friday, they were 0-for-7 with RISP and stranded 10 men on base.

In the bottom of the first inning, Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez labored hard as he threw a total of 40 pitches and had the bases loaded with one out. The Reds came up empty, with Dunn flying out to right field to end the inning.

In the second inning, Noelvi Marte led off with a home run to center field – his first of the season.

“We had a chance," Francona said. "I was really happy about the pitch count, but it would have been nice to have more than just the one run on the solo homer.”

By the time Rodriguez was done after 85 pitches in 2 2/3 innings with five walks, the only other run crossed on a throwing error that allowed Spencer Steer to score after Eugenio Suárez's blooped single to center field.

"There were some other chances throughout the game," Dunn said. "I guess we couldn’t really get that big put-away swing. We just kind of let them hang around too long.”