Reds at Braves
The Atlanta Braves have made a habit of thrilling late victories in their rise to the top of the National League East, and second baseman Ozzie Albies continues heating up entering Tuesday’s home contest against the Cincinnati Reds. Albies belted the game-winning homer Monday as the Braves topped the Reds 5-4 in 11 innings, extending his hitting streak to seven games and raising his average in that stretch to .455 as Atlanta earned its 10th victory of the season in its last at-bat.
Albies has 10 hits in his past three games to raise his average to .269, and right fielder Nick Markakis added two hits - becoming the first player in the National League to reach 100 hits this season - as the Braves pushed their NL East lead to 3 ½ games over Philadelphia. The Reds remain in last place in the NL Central, but have played far better baseball of late as their seven-game winning streak ended Monday with just their third loss in the past 13 games. Cincinnati averaged 6.3 runs in its previous 12 games but finished 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the series opener. First baseman Joey Votto finished 1-for-2 with three walks, moving within three hits of Frank Robinson for ninth place on the franchise’s all-time list.
TV: 7:35 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Matt Harvey (2-5, 5.66 ERA) vs. Braves RH Anibal Sanchez (3-1, 2.55)
The results have been mixed for Harvey since he was dealt by the New York Mets after a horrid start to the season, ending with him allowing five runs to the Braves in two innings of relief May 3. The 29-year-old has pitched better of late, holding the Chicago Cubs to two runs with six strikeouts over six innings Thursday to earn his second victory with Cincinnati. Harvey is 3-7 with a 5.27 ERA in 13 career appearances against Atlanta, surrendering six runs in six innings of an April 19 outing, his last starting assignment before New York banished him to the bullpen.
Sanchez aims to display better control after walking a season-high four on Wednesday at Toronto, taking his first loss of the season after allowing four runs on five hits over five innings with a season-best seven strikeouts. The 34-year-old late-spring signing has provided stability to Atlanta’s young rotation, posting a 2.22 ERA and a 0.86 WHIP with a .169 opponents batting average in four June starts. Sanchez is 2-2 with a 2.52 ERA in four career starts against Cincinnati, but has not faced the Reds since firing a complete-game two-hit shutout in 2015 while with Detroit.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cincinnati CF Billy Hamilton finished hitless in four at-bats Monday, ending his seven-game hitting streak.
2. Atlanta activated Monday’s starter RHP Mike Foltynewicz from the disabled list before the series opener, optioning RHP Evan Phillips to Triple-A Gwinnett.
3. The Reds are 29-31 since interim manager Jim Riggleman took over April 19.