Reds Lose Again To Braves 4-1

Apr 26, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Cincinnati Reds right fielder Jay Bruce (32) prepares for an at bat against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at Turner Field. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Rookie right-hander David Hale for the Atlanta Braves, dominated the Cincinnati Reds offense tonight, by allowing only one run in eight solid innings of a 4-1 win over the Reds on Saturday night

Hale successfully kept the ball down against the Cincinnati hits and retired 12 batters on ground balls. He allowed only two hits, both in the first inning when the Reds scored their only run, and struck out four. Hale, aided by a double-play in the fourth, retired the last 22 batters he faced.

Closer Craig Kimbrel pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn his eighth save in nine opportunities. Kimbrel allowed a one-out walk to first baseman Joey Votto but came back to strike out second baseman Brandon Phillips and right fielder Jay Bruce to end the game.

Cincinnati starter Mike Leake allowed eight hits in seven innings, but three of them left the park and equaled his previous total allowed this season. Leake struck out four but allowed four runs for his second straight start.

The Braves supported Hale with three home runs, a two-run shot by first baseman Freddie Freeman, and solo homers by left fielder Justin Upton and catcher Evan Gattis. Atlanta won its third straight game and has now won seven of eight series this season.

The Reds got a two-out run in the first inning. Second baseman Brandon Phillips singled, Bruce walked and left fielder Ryan Ludwick hammered a double off the wall to score Phillips.

The Braves took the lead in the bottom of the first. Center fielder B.J. Upton reached on an infield single and first baseman Freddie Freeman followed with a long homer to center field to put Atlanta ahead 2-1.

Freeman appeared to have his second home run of the night on his next at-bat in the third inning, but Ryan Ludwick reached over the wall at to rob him.

The next two Atlanta batters connected for solo homers, left fielder Justin Upton with a smash to deep center and catcher Evan Gattis with a shot to left-center, that gave the Braves a 4-1 lead.

Reds look to win one in Atlanta with the series finale tomorrow afternoon and the last game of the three cities, 10 game road trip. They are 5-4 now, so the chances of the team winning tomorrow is good, because Cincinnati is 7-0 in finale of series’ this season.

First pitch tomorrow is at 1:35pm on FSN OHIO.