Hamilton scores winning run from first on Cozart’s single
CLEVELAND — Billy Hamilton scored from first base on Zack Cozart’s two-run single with two outs in the ninth inning against closer Cody Allen to lift the Cincinnati Reds over the Cleveland Indians 4-3 on Wednesday night.
The speedy Hamilton reached after narrowly beating out an apparent game-ending double play. He was ruled safe after a replay review, putting runners at first and third for Cozart.
With Hamilton running, Cozart hit a sinking liner to left. Michael Brantley couldn’t make a diving catch and the ball rolled a few feet away. Pinchrunner Arismendy Alcantara scored to tie it and Hamilton also raced home.
It was the first blown save for Allen (0-2) since Aug. 17 and ended a streak of 22 straight regular-season saves. Throw in Allen’s six postseason saves and he had converted 28 in a row.
Michael Lorenzen (3-0) pitched the eighth, and Raisel Iglesias retired Brantley with two on in the ninth for his eighth save.
The game was delayed by rain in the top of the sixth inning for 2 hours and 1 minute.
Iglesias retired the first two hitters in the ninth. Jason Kipnis walked and took third on Francisco Lindor’s single, but Brantley grounded out to second.
Carlos Santana drove in all three Cleveland runs. He hit a two-run homer in the third and broke a 2-all tie with an RBI double in the fifth.
Adam Duvall hit a two-run homer in the fourth for the Reds, who have taken two of three from the Indians in their annual series.
Reds starter Lisalverto Bonilla allowed three runs in five innings.
Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer gave up two runs in 5 innings. He was removed after retiring the first batter in the sixth. As reliever Boone Logan entered the game, the umpires called for the tarp.
Andrew Miller replaced Logan following the lengthy delay. Logan was credited with an appearance despite not throwing a pitch.
In Bauer’s past three starts, he’s struck out 22 and walked three in 17 innings. He’s allowed eight earned runs and four homers in that stretch as well.
Indians right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup and is being evaluated for a possible head injury. He was tagged out sliding headfirst at home plate Sunday against the Houston Astros.
Bailey sees game action
Reds right-hander Homer Bailey, working back from offseason surgery to remove bone spurs from his elbow, took another significant step in his rehab by pitching an inning in an extended spring training game Monday.
Manager Bryan Price didn’t have a full report on the outing, but what he did hear was positive.
Bailey will pitch every five days from now on, extending his outing by an inning each time.