Matt Adams' grand slam, homer in 12th send Braves past Reds

Atlanta Braves' Matt Adams runs the bases after hitting the go-ahead solo home run off Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Blake Wood in the 12th inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 3, 2017, in Cincinnati. The Braves won 6-5. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Atlanta Braves' Matt Adams runs the bases after hitting the go-ahead solo home run off Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Blake Wood in the 12th inning of a baseball game, Saturday, June 3, 2017, in Cincinnati. The Braves won 6-5. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

CINCINNATI - For much of Saturday it appeared the Braves would waste the precious commodity of an effective outing from their starting pitcher. Then it looked as if Matt Adams changed everything with his first career grand slam.

But that wasn't enough for the Braves, who gave back another late lead, so Adams delivered another big hit.

Adams homered in the 12th inning to lift the Braves to a 6-5 victory over the Reds. Adams, who bats lefty, launched right-hander Blake Wood's 2-1 slider into the seats in left-center field to finally finish off the Reds.

The Braves (23-30) are 3-6 on a trip that ends with a series finale against the Reds on Sunday. They had to work hard to earn the latest victory.

The Reds trailed 5-1 after Adams' grand slam in the fifth inning, but came back to tie the score in the sixth. The Braves stayed in the game by stranding two Reds base runners in the ninth, 10th and 11th innings and then won when Adams homered again.

The Braves acquired Adams in a trade with the Cardinals soon after placing first baseman Freddie Freeman on the disabled list. At the time of his injury Freeman was among the league leaders in batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Under the circumstances, the Braves believe they did well to acquire Adams as a temporary replacement for Freeman. Adams was a part-time player for most of his six seasons with the Cardinals and now is playing every day and usually batting fifth.

He has two game-ending hits in his first 12 games with the Braves. Three days after joining the Braves he hit a walk-off single to beat the Pirates, following a rain delay of more than three hours.

After Adams' grand slam in the fifth inning, Braves right-hander R.A. Dickey and reliever Jason Motte faltered in the sixth, and second baseman Brandon Phillips seemingly committed a defensive blunder.

With one out, Dickey hit Jose Peraza with a pitch. Devin Mesoraco followed with a ground ball to shortstop Dansby Swanson, who threw to Phillips at second base ahead of Peraza.

But umpire Marty Foster called Peraza safe, apparently because Foster ruled that Phillips' foot wasn't on the bag when he caught the ball. Replays appeared to show that Phillips' left foot was in contact with second base, but Braves manager Brian Snitker lost a challenge.

Dicky then walked pinch hitter Patrick Kivlehan to load the bases before giving up an RBI single to Arismendy Alcantara. That prompted Snitker to call on reliever Jason Motte to face Zack Cozart, who got ahead 3-0 in the count before walking to score a run.

The next batter, Joey Votto, hit a two-run single against Motte to complete another Reds comeback. They overcame a two-run deficit in the ninth inning Friday before winning on Mesoraco's game-ending home run against Jose Ramirez in the 10th.

Dickey had the Reds off-balance through five-plus innings, with Peraza's solo home run the only big mistake. The Braves produced base runners in each of the first four innings against right-hander Scott Feldman, but couldn't convert them into runs.

Double plays ended Braves threats in the first and third innings. Kurt Suzuki's long fly ball died at the warning track in the second. And Dickey lined out with the bases loaded in the fourth.

The Braves pressured Feldman again in the fifth. After Phillips reached on a two-base throwing error by third baseman Eugenio Suarez, Nick Markakis walked and Matt Kemp singled to load the bases.

That prompted Reds pitching coach Mack Jenkins to visit with Feldman for a talk. But Feldman delivered a 2-1 cut fastball that Adams sent about 430 feet to center field.

Adonis Garcia followed with a double that chased Feldman in favor if reliever Austin Brice. Swanson added an RBI single before Brice finally ended the inning.

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