Reds win challenge on quirky foul ball call

CINCINNATI -- The Reds had their first successful manager's challenge on Monday vs. the Pirates on a play that proved painful for Pittsburgh right fielder Travis Snider.

With one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, and the Pirates holding a 3-2 lead, Todd Frazier skied a popup near the right-field foul line. As Snider attempted to make a sliding catch, the ball hit him in the face and skidded away. It was ruled a foul ball by first-base umpire Brian Knight, who promptly summoned for a trainer to tend to Snider after he appeared to be injured.

As Snider was examined, the Reds had time to see the television replay. Manager Bryan Price requested a challenge from crew chief Gerry Davis, saying Snider's face was in fair territory.

"That was an interesting thing," Price explained. "The ball was down the line, and we can't see him there. As soon as it happens, Homer [Bailey, Reds starter] popped his head up and said, 'You guys might want to take a look at that.' Of course, we're figuring they're rushing out there to check on the outfielder, so we're going to have all sorts of time."

After a couple of glitches with the phone, bench coach Jay Bell and video coordinator Rob Coughlin were able to communicate with one another about the play.

"One's picking up, and the other is trying to dial, and they couldn't reach each other. Finally, as they realized Snider is going to be OK, that's when we got word that said we'd better take a look at this," Price said. "By the time I got out there to Brian Knight, I saw Jay say thumbs up, which for us is to go ahead and challenge it."

Following a 2-minute, 30-second review, the call on the field was overturned, and the umpires placed Frazier on second base with a double. It would help the Reds, as two batters later, Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run home run to center field off of Wandy Rodriguez for a 4-3 Cincinnati lead.

"[Snider] laid out, trying to make a play, and the ball clipped him right on the chin," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, who accompanied head athletic trainer Todd Tomczyk to check out Snider. "But he was good to go, wasn't dizzy or anything. And he obviously showed up right after that."

Bailey allowed consecutive homers for the second time in the game in the top of the fifth inning, with Snider following Starling Marte with his third blast of the season, to swing the lead in the Pirates' favor, 5-4. The Bucs hit three sets of back-to-back home runs, with Neil Walker and Gaby Sanchez doing it twice.

The two clubs had combined for 10 homers, a Great American Ball Park record, in a 7-7 game suspended by rain before the top of the seventh inning.