The Reds were one out away Wednesday afternoon from not scoring more than three runs in 12 consecutive games for the first time in nearly 66 years.
Had it not been for Devin Mesoraco’s three-run homer off D-backs closer Addison Reed with two outs in the ninth, Cincinnati might have set the longest such streak in franchise history since the 1948 club was unable to score at least four runs in a game for 14 contests from Aug. 26-Sept. 9.
But though it avoided that fate, Cincinnati lost, 5-4, to Arizona in the rubber game at Great American Ball Park. It was the Reds’ 10th loss in 12 post-All-Star break games and resulted in their fourth consecutive series loss. They hadn’t dropped four straight series since the first four series of the season.
With the Brewers’ 5-0 win over the Rays, the Reds are six games back in the National League Central.
Cincinnati squandered several scoring chances, reflecting another microcosm of how unproductive its offense has been in the second half:
• The Reds were 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position, and are batting .141 (11-for-78) with runners in scoring position since the All-Star break.
• They left 10 men on base Wednesday and stranded 22 in the series.
• They had runners in scoring position in every inning but two (the second and fifth), and before the the ninth, scored one run in the eighth on a Skip Schumaker RBI double.
In the ninth, pinch-hitter Billy Hamilton, who didn’t start because manager Bryan Price wanted to give the struggling center fielder a day off, led off with a single and moved to second one out later when Ramon Santiago walked. Todd Frazier flew out to left and Mesoraco hit the three-run blast, his 18th homer of the season.
Though the club’s hitters continued to struggle, Price shouldered some of the blame for the outcome.
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