Reds 9

**Stardust** · 05-13-2012, 09:15 PM

Votto walk-off, 2 out, Grand Slam! Confused

inglepar

**Stardust** · 05-13-2012, 09:33 PM

Joey Votto hit three homers including a walk-off grand slam, as the Reds beat the Nationals 9-6 on Sunday at rainy Great American Ball Park. The Reds salvaged the final game of a three-game series.

It was Votto’s second three-homer game of his career. The winning blast (to center) came with two outs in the ninth, against Nationals closer Henry Rodriguez. Sean Marshall (1-2) won it with an inning of relief.

The start of Sunday’s game was delayed three hours and 36 minutes by rain, and there was occasional drizzle during the game. Attendance was announced as 28,361, but many went home before the game began. By game’s end, the stands were mostly empty. Those who remained will have a lifetime Votto memory.

Votto gave the Reds a 1-0 lead with a homer to left in the first inning. It was Votto’s third homer of the year and first since April 30.

The homer also was the 118th of Votto’s career, lifting him past Sean Casey for fourth all-time among Reds first basemen.

Bryce Harper, Washington’s heralded 19-year-old rookie, singled in the second inning for his first hit of the weekend series. Harper came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Jesus Flores, which tied the score 1-1.

Harper was 0-for-9 in the series’ first two games, then went 2-for-5 Sunday.

Washington jumped ahead 2-1 in the third inning against Reds starter Bronson Arroyo, on consecutive doubles by Ian Desmond and Roger Bernadina.

Votto homered again in the fourth inning, this time to center, to tie the game 2-2. It was the ninth multi-homer game of Votto’s career.

The Nationals regained the lead, 4-2, on a two-run double by Danny Espinosa in the fifth inning.

Newest Red Mike Costanzo made his major league debut as a pinch hitter for Arroyo in the fifth inning. Costanzo hit the first pitch thrown to him for a sacrifice fly (to left), which cut the Reds’ deficit to 4-3.

Costanzo was called up from Triple-A Louisville on Saturday, when Scott Rolen (shoulder) went on the 15-day disabled list.

Pinch hitter Chad Tracy gave Washington a 5-3 lead in the seventh inning, with an RBI single off of Sam LeCure.

Adam LaRoche put Washington up 6-3 in the eighth, with an RBI single off of J.J. Hoover.

Jay Bruce hit a two-run double to right center in the eighth, which brought the Reds within 6-5. Bruce’s towering flyball seemed a routine out, but right fielder Harper lost the ball in the rain/lights and had no play. Center fielder Rick Ankiel finally tracked the ball down, as two runs scored.

Arroyo went five innings and surrendered four runs and 11 hits. Arroyo walked one and struck out six.

Nationals starter Edwin Jackson also went five innings. Jackson allowed three runs and five hits, with no walks and four strikeouts.

The Reds, second in the NL Central, moved within 2 Â½ games of division leader St. Louis. The Cardinals on Sunday lost for a third consecutive game.

The Reds on Monday start a seven-game road trip. There will be two games inAtlanta(Monday-Tuesday), then five games inNew Yorkagainst the Mets (Wednesday-Thursday) and Yankees (Friday through Sunday).http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/201...y=nav|head