Griffey's walk-off gets it done in extras
Reds beat Milwaukee 4-3
CINCINNATI -- There's nothing like a clutch homer -- except maybe two of them.
Edwin Encarnacion and Paul Bako hit back-to-back solo homers in the bottom of the 10th inning, and Ken Griffey Jr. drove in Ryan Freel later in the frame asthe Reds came back to take the series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-3, on Sunday at Great American Ball Park.
Before Bako's shot, Encarnacion had been singlehandedly responsible for both of the Reds' runs, having hit another home in the bottom of thefifth.
Encarnacion had also been a party to the Brewers going ahead in the top of the 10th.
With two runners on, Encarnacion couldn't handle a Jason Kendall grounder, so instead of forcing out Gabe Gross at third base and having a chance toturn a double play and get out of the inning, Encarnacion's bungle allowed the go-ahead run to reach third.
Gross scored on the next batter when Jared Burton (1-1) threw a wild pitch.
Eric Gagne (1-1) was charged with the blown save and the loss for Milwaukee.
Righty Aaron Harang took the Reds deep into the game, lasting eight innings before coming out. Harang struck out eight, walked none and allowed four hits,yielding an earned run. Harang didn't figure into the decision on the rainy Sunday afternoon.
After J.J. Hardy's solo home run in the fourth inning put the Brewers ahead, 1-0, the Reds had a chance to tie in the bottom of the frame, but Adam Dunnwas thrown out at home plate, running from first on a Jeff Keppinger double that broke up Yovani Gallardo's no-hitter.
Gallardo exited after retiring the side in order in the bottom of the seventh, giving up just a run on four hits and three walks in his season debut aftercoming off the disabled list following surgery to repair a torn lateral meniscus in his right knee.
I'm still pissed at Brennaman, I hope he gets attacked by wild sparrows, but thanks for beating theBooooers.
