Reds rally to win in 10

From Enquirer reporter Shannon Russell:

Ken Griffey Jr.'s hit to right field in the bottom of the 10th inning scored pinch runner Ryan Freel and gave the Reds a 4-3 win over Milwaukee today.

The Reds averted a series sweep on a drizzly Sunday at Great American Ball Park before 26,902 fans.

Edwin Encarnacion, who hit two home runs in a game for the third time in his career, redeemed himself after late fielding miscues. He bobbled a grounder that loaded the bases in the top of the 10th.

Milwaukee's Gabe Gross scored on Jared Burton's wild pitch to break open a 1-1 game. Then J.J. Hardy connected on a base hit RBI for a two-run lead, which disappeared in the bottom of the inning.

But, after falling behind 3-1 in the top of the 10th, Encarnacion and Paul Bako knotted the score with back-to-back home runs off Brewers closer Eric Gagne.


The game initially featured a showdown between Aaron Harang and the Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo, who made his first start of the season Sunday.

Gallardo was fresh from being reinstated from the 15-day disabled list, following a Feb. 19 surgery to repair his left knee’s torn lateral meniscus.

Harang struck out four of his first nine batters – three swinging, one looking – and allowed only one hit in the first three innings.

The hitter was Gallardo. He doubled to left field in the top of the third but was stranded on base when Rickie Weeks popped out to right center.

Hardy broke the scoreless deadlock by hitting his first home run this season in the top of the fourth.

Reds fireworks were unleashed in the bottom of the fifth when Encarnacion hit his first homer. He extended his hitting streak to 10 games, tying a career high, with a 414-foot shot into the left field stands.

The Reds had opportunities following the homer, starting with Bako’s bat-breaking base hit. Harang’s sacrifice bunt moved him to second, and then Corey Patterson walked.

But Brandon Phillips’ grounder to third base ended the inning and left Bako and Patterson on base.

Gallardo finished after the seventh inning. He gave up four hits, one run, walked three, struck out four, and surrendered a home run. He threw 112 pitches, including 68 strikes.

Harang pitched eight innings, and allowed four hits and one run. He struck out eight and and gave up a home run. Seventy-four of his 114 pitches were strikes.