Reds-Braves Postgame Quotes

Apr 25, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Homer Bailey (34) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the fourth inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Whether it was the beginning of the game, the middle or the end on Friday night vs. the Braves, the misfortune and calamity were certainly spread around for the Reds.

The Reds also lost, which added to the unpleasantness. Despite the attempt to claw back, it was a 5-4 loss to the Braves.

What went wrong for Cincinnati? Plenty.

Catcher Devin Mesoraco could be headed for the disabled list after he strained his left hamstring while scoring a run in the seventh.

“The severity is it could be significant or it could be something that’s a couple or three days,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “We’ll see. I think we’ll have more news for you tomorrow.”

Third baseman Todd Frazier has a tight left groin, which surfaced during a leadoff double in the second inning. Frazier exited before the bottom of the fifth.

“To come out is really tough,” Frazier said. “I don’t like coming out of games. Every game is important to me. If they really needed me out there … if it was a playoff game or something, I’m not coming out.”

With a 1-2 record and 6.15 ERA, what’s been the issue for Bailey?

“Bad pitches, typically does it,” Bailey said. “It’s kind of one of those that I just have to sharpen up just a little bit. One pitch here, one pitch there. I’d probably be a little more worried if I were walking a bunch of guys or getting behind in a lot of counts. It’s simple pitch execution. It’s what I’m not doing in big situations.”

In the seventh, Mesoraco led off with a single and advanced on a Santana wild pitch. With two outs, as Billy Hamilton rolled a hit up the middle and hustled for a double, Mesoraco grabbed his left hamstring and fell down after rounding third base but limped home to score.

“It balled up once I got my right foot off the bag and once my left foot planted there, it kind of balled up,” Mesoraco said.

“We fought though. I was watching it here when I was getting treatment,” Frazier said. “That’s a big step. We fought — I’m proud of our guys for that — to the very last out. We didn’t give up a run after the five we gave up. I’m just happy we fought and kept swinging.”

With two outs, Votto hit a ground ball to third base where Chris Johnson made a wide throw to Freeman at first base that appeared initially to have pulled him off the bag. Votto was called out by the umpire, but Price came out and requested a manager replay challenge.

Had Votto been ruled safe, the Reds could have tied the game since Bernadina never stopped running after reaching third base. Price sought out the crew chief after the decision.

“I wanted to know if it was inconclusive or if it was confirmed,” Price said. “And it was confirmed. I had a chance to come up here and look at our own video, which is what they’re getting in New York. And it was a confirmed out call. They got the call right in the end.”

“If you have to lose, at the end of the day, you hope you have some things to look back on,” he said. “We came back and pushed and pushed and pushed. The guys were into it and had great energy on the field and played hard. Homer bounced back after a tough three innings and gave us a chance to get back in the game. The bullpen came in and did a real nice job. We defended well and we did a lot of things well. We just came up short.”