D-backs rally to extend Reds' losing streak
CINCINNATI -- The D-backs scored five unanswered runs to notch a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over the Reds on Thursday night at Great American Ball Park to extend Cincinnati's losing streak to six games.
Arizona was down, 4-3, in the eighth inning when it scored two runs against reliever Burke Badenhop on A.J. Pollock's bases-loaded, two-out single to center field. Badenhop's scoreless streak of 20 games and 18 1/3 innings since July 3 ended in an inning that normally belongs to setup man J.J. Hoover, who was being held for the ninth inning with closer Aroldis Chapman unavailable because of shoulder stiffness.
Video: ARI@CIN: Pollock lines four hits, drives in three
D-backs starter Patrick Corbin was chased after two innings after allowing eight hits and trailing 4-0, while Reds rookie John Lamb was initially cruising. Three runs crossed on Corbin in the second inning, including Tucker Barnhart's RBI single, Jason Bourgeois' RBI triple with two outs and Eugenio Suarez RBI single. Chris Owings hit a homer to start the fifth inning off of Lamb, who started to labor and gave up a pair of two-out hits that included Pollock's RBI single. Three one-out hits for Arizona came in the sixth for another run.
"They did a really nice job of two-strike hitting," Reds manager Bryan Price said of the D-backs. "They probably had somewhere in the neighborhood of three or four 0-2 base hits. They took what was out there for them tonight and just kept the pressure on."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Hustling for extra bases, home: It was a 1-0 game in the second inning when the Reds added on with three more runs. Skip Schumaker notched a base hit to center field and hustled to second base safely with a headfirst slide. When Barnhart followed with a single, Schumaker trucked home as the throw to the plate was cut off.
Video: ARI@CIN: Barnhart rips a run-scoring single to center
Owings goes deep: Owings doubled in his first at-bat, and topped that with a solo homer to left field in the fifth. The home run came on an 89-mph fastball from Lamb and traveled an estimated 406 feet to get the D-backs on the board. It was his fourth home run and first since July 17. Pollock would also tack on a run in the fifth with a two-out single to cut the Reds' lead to 4-2.
"I feel like I've been swinging the bat good ever since the last homestand, and it might not have shown it in Pittsburgh and Atlanta, but I still feel like I'm seeing the ball well and got some to haul in tonight," said Owings, who entered the game 2-for-20 but finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Video: ARI@CIN: Owings crushes a solo homer to left field
Lamb learning: Lamb, who struggled in the fifth inning during his big league debut last Friday in Los Angeles, had 97 pitches through the fifth on Thursday. Price let him return for the sixth, when he hit some more one-out trouble. Lamb finished with three earned runs and nine hits over 5 1/3 innings, with all three runs and six of the hits coming in the fifth and sixth innings.
"Just that inning there, I was trying to double up on the curveball and gave up the hit -- a jammed single," Lamb said. "Then trying to come in on Owings, a cutter in, and the single up the middle for the knock. It's a learning experience. I'm just grateful to have the ball in my hand and be able to go out here and compete."
Video: ARI@CIN: Lamb fans eight batters over 5 1/3 innings
D-backs bullpen seals deal: The D-backs bullpen was called on early and answered with seven scoreless innings. Five different pitchers gave up two hits and a walk while striking out seven. Josh Collmenter led the way for the bullpen, retiring all nine batters he faced in relief of Corbin.
"Good to get [Corbin] out of there, Collmenter picked us up huge and just guys competing," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "We talk about that in the [pregame] meetings."
Video: ARI@CIN: Collmenter fires three hitless innings
QUOTABLE
"We needed John to go back out there and soak up another inning, and he was already at 97 pitches but felt good. It's a credit to the kid, he had great composure. He challenged hitters in the zone with good stuff, and I'm real pleased with what we've seen from him." -- Price, on using Lamb in the sixth because the Reds were shorthanded in the bullpen
REDS LOSE CHALLENGE
During a three-run bottom of the second, Suarez tried scoring from first base on Joey Votto's two-out double to the left-field corner. As Nick Ahmed's cutoff throw came to the plate, Suarez tried to avoid Welington Castillo's tag, but he was called out by home-plate umpire Marty Foster. The Reds challenged the ruling, and the call stood.
Video: ARI@CIN: Relay nabs Suarez after challenge stands
D-BACKS WIN CHALLENGE
With runners on first and second and two outs in the eighth, Owings was able to bring down a sharp grounder to short from Ivan De Jesus, but the throw to first pulled Paul Goldschmidt off the bag, and first-base umpire Mike Winters ruled De Jesus safe to load the bases. However, the D-backs challenged the call and it was determined Goldschmidt did make the tag for the final out of the inning.
Video: ARI@CIN: Owings fields, throws to first for the out
WHAT'S NEXT
D-backs: Right-hander Rubby De La Rosa will look to remain hot when he takes the mound against the Reds on Friday at 4:10 p.m. PT. He recorded a no-decision after giving up one run across seven innings in his last start on Sunday against the Braves. He is 4-0 with a 2.54 ERA in his last six starts.
Reds: In a chance to face his former organization, David Holmberg will start against Arizona on Friday at 7:10 p.m. ET. Holmberg, who was traded from the D-backs to the Reds in a three-team deal following the 2013 season, was hammered in his last outing. He lasted only 1 1/3 innings against the Dodgers on Saturday and gave up seven earned runs, five hits, four walks and three home runs.
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