Guillermo Heredia returns to lineup, stars for Braves in win over Reds

AP photo by Aaron Doster / Baseball fans watch the fireworks after Friday night's game between the Atlanta Braves and the host Cincinnati Reds.
AP photo by Aaron Doster / Baseball fans watch the fireworks after Friday night's game between the Atlanta Braves and the host Cincinnati Reds.

CINCINNATI - Guillermo Heredia homered, doubled and made a gem of play in the field before crashing into the wall in the eighth inning in his return to Atlanta's lineup, helping the Braves beat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2 on Friday night.

Heredia started in center field after he was limited to being available off the bench the previous two games due to right wrist inflammation.

"You never want to miss time," Heredia said via translator Franco Garcia. "Thankfully I was able to recover and help the team out."

The game's first run came in the fifth, when Atlanta's Freddie Freeman doubled home Ronald Acuña Jr. for the 900th RBI of his MLB career. Acuña returned to the lineup after missing two games with tightness in his lower back.

Dansby Swanson hit a solo homer in the sixth and Heredia added a solo shot in the seventh, both off Reds rookie Vladimir Gutiérrez (3-2).

"He was gassed up, I guess," Braves manager Brian Snitker said of Heredia. "He was fresh. That was a really good ballgame for him."

Gutiérrez got some defensive help in the fourth. With runners on second and third and two outs, Eugenio Suárez made a diving stop of William Contreras' bouncer down the line and threw to first from his knees to end the inning.

"There were several (good defensive) plays tonight," Reds manager David Bell said.

Suárez also hit a solo home run off Luke Jackson in the seventh.

Drew Smyly (1-1) exited after six innings with a 3-1 lead, and Atlanta's bullpen held on. Smyly has won his past three decisions.

"The breaking ball's been good, the fastball, too," Snitker said. "Hopefully, he stays on this roll for another three months. He's been really, really good."

Will Smith worked the ninth and picked up his 16th save of the season.

Heredia robbed Jesse Winker of an extra-base hit leading off the eighth and collided with the wall. He stayed down on the warning track but remained in the game after being attended to by training staff.

"It was just a reaction," Heredia said. "I just took off running and was able to track it down. My stomach hit (the wall) and knocked the air out of me. I felt like a boxer."

Snitker jogged from the dugout to deep center to check on Heredia. Once he knew Heredia was fine, Snitker joked he might need some help getting back to the dugout.

"I told him I needed a couple of minutes, too, before I made the trek back," Snitker said. "Told them I might need an Uber."

Atlanta's starting pitchers have been on a roll of late, with Smyly the latest to deliver a strong outing. Saturday's starter, Ian Anderson, tossed 5 1/3 shutout innings in his most recent start, and Charlie Morton hasn't allowed a run in 14 2/3 innings over his past two.

"Everyone expects the next guy to dominate," Smyly said. "It's a matter of all of us clicking at the same time."

Snitker has not named a starter for Sunday's series finale in Cincinnati, but he confirmed Morton will start Tuesday against the New York Mets. Morton will be pitching on an extra two days of rest.

Max Fried, who's currently on the injured list with a blister, is expected to take the mound Wednesday.

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