REDS RUN OVER GREENE
Barnhart’s 3-run homer off new closer lifts Reds over Braves 6-4
ATLANTA — Tucker Barnhart hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the 10th inning off new Atlanta closer Shane Greene, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Braves 6-4 on Sunday after wasting a two-run lead in the ninth.
A day after blowing a save chance in his Braves debut, Greene (0-1) gave up four hits and three runs in one inning.
Josh Vanmeter singled leading off but Greene got Nick Senzel to ground into a double play. Aristides Aquino and José Iglesias singled ahead of Barnhart’s sixth homer, his first since May 25.
Greene was acquired from Detroit on Wednesday by the Braves, who have a comfortable NL East lead.
Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a tying two-run homer in the ninth off Amir Garrett, thumping his chest and yelling at the Braves’ dugout as he flung his bat while leaving the batter’s box after his 27th home run this season. Acuña hit a game-ending, 10th-inning single that lifted Atlanta to a 5-4 win on Saturday night.
Robert Stephenson (3-2) got the final two outs in the ninth. David Hernandez gave up a two-out homer to Tyler Flowers in the 10th before retiring Freddie Freeman on a groundout for his second save.
Sonny Gray allowed four hits in seven scoreless innings and struck out seven. He escaped a base-loaded jam in in the sixth when Flowers grounded out.
Cincinnati built a 3-0 lead on Jesse Winker’s RBI single in the third, Gray’s sacrifice fly in the fourth and Senzel’s run-scoring single in the fifth.
Atlanta wore throwback uniforms from 1974, when Hank Aaron broke Babe Ruth’s home run record, and was shut out until Josh Donaldson homered off Lucas Sims in the eighth.
Braves starter Julio Teheran walked a season-high six, including one intentionally, in five innings.
Reds manager David Bell served the third game of a six-game suspension.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Braves: A rare break from starting for Freeman provided rookie Austin Riley with his first start at first base. Riley played in four games at first base at Triple-a Gwinnett this season before his promotion on May 15. He had no previous professional experience at first base.