CINCINNATI -- Not only did the Reds have to absorb dropping a very winnable game in extra innings on Saturday, they had to play half of it minus two-thirds of their starting outfield. Both Billy Hamilton and Scott Schebler were forced out with left shoulder injuries in the sixth inning.
Diving plays were at the root of both players' injuries during the 6-5 loss to the Braves in 12 innings. Hamilton was lifted before the top of the sixth in the wake of two unsuccessful diving catches. Schebler came out following a diving catch that robbed Nick Markakis of extra bases. Both players were diagnosed with left shoulder strains.
"Geez Louise, same shoulder and everything," Schebler said. "It's kind of a crazy little deal there. Hopefully we're both ready to go here soon."
Reds manager Bryan Price was optimistic that neither player would need to miss much time or go on the 10-day disabled list.
"We'll probably have a better idea in the morning," Price said. "I think we'll learn a lot overnight. Probably come back in tomorrow, see their availability."

With one out in the top of the sixth against reliever Austin Brice with Cincinnati down by a 5-1 score, Markakis flied a ball into the sun in right-center field. Schebler made a long run and fully stretched on his dive to make the catch. He grimaced immediately and appeared shaken up, though, from the play. He was looked over by assistant trainer Tomas Vera and Price before being lifted.
"Honestly, I just landed really funny. My shoulder kind of went numb, fingers were fine," Schebler said. "It's just a stinger, honestly. Five minutes after it happened, we did tests and strength tests and my strength was good. There were a couple of tender spots and you ice it and it gets super tight. That's good for it to be tight right now after icing. 
"I expect to see how I feel tomorrow. If I'm ready to go, I'm ready to go. I don't see this being a big deal."
Schebler, who was replaced by Scooter Gennett, has made several nice defensive plays in recent games. One was a diving catch on the same shoulder on Tuesday at Toronto.

"Every time you dive or run into a wall, especially with shoulders ... you kind of get a little sensation like that," said Schebler, who is batting .241 and tied for the National League with 16 home runs. "In Toronto I got the same thing. It was not as intense of a sensation at that point so I finished the game and it was good. This one was a little more intense."
Hamilton, who was replaced by Arismendy Alcantara, made unsuccessful diving attempts on pitcher R.A. Dickey's third-inning single and Adonis Garcia's fifth-inning double.
Price was already working short with a four-man bench -- all of which were used in the game. Reliever Michael Lorenzen also batted for himself in the eighth inning, and pitcher Bronson Arroyo pinch-hit in the 10th to lay down a sacrifice bunt.
Cincinnati could be forced to play really shorthanded on Sunday while trying to take the rubber game of the series vs. Atlanta.
"From a position player standpoint, we'll know a lot more in the morning on if Scheb and Billy can help in some way, shape or form," Price said. "They [could] come back feeling miraculously better, or if they're not going to have any availability to help us at all."