This (lack of) offense continues to be amazing.
Despite having runners all over the place, the Braves only managed a single run against Mike Leake, losing 5-1.
The Reds gave Leake an early lead to work with. In the second inning, Fred Lewis hit a one-out double to score Scott Rolen who had reached on an infield single.
Early signs indicated the offense was going to struggle yet again. Jordan Schafer drew a leadoff walk in the first, but was erased on Martin Prado's double play groundout. Chipper Jones and Brian McCann both followed with walks, but Eric Hinske flied out on the first pitch he saw.
Another chance presented itself in the fourth. Chipper Jones drew his second walk and McCann singled with Hinske and Dan Uggla behind them. Unfortunately, Hinske flied out again and Uggla lined into a double play. The Braves put two more runners on base in the fifth, but again came up empty.
Atlanta's lone run came in the sixth. Dan Uggla came to the plate with two on and one out and hit a deep fly ball to center. Everyone thought it was a home run, but Drew Stubbs caught it against the wall and Uggla had to settle for a sacrifice fly.
Their best opportunity to bust their collective slump came in the eighth. Chipper Jones drew his third walk of the game leading off and with two outs, Uggla singled and Freddie Freeman walked to load the bases, but Alex Gonzalez grounded out to end the inning. Altogether, the Braves left 11 runners on base and were only 1 for 7 with RISP.
The Reds were able to take advantage of some crucial mistakes against Tommy Hanson. Following a one-out walk to Fred Lewis in the fourth, Ramon Hernandez hit a pitch right back to Hanson, but Hanson threw the ball wide of second base to allow Lewis to reach third. Paul Janish drove him in with a squeeze bunt. They scored their third run of the game when with two outs and runners at first and third, Jay Bruce grounded a ball up the middle that Alex Gonzalez would have fielded cleanly, but reliever George Sherrill deflected the ball, allowing Brandon Phillips to score from third easily.
Ramon Hernandez tacked on two more with a ninth-inning home run off Craig Kimbrel.
Although the Reds scored five, they were only 2 for 17 with RISP and left 14 runners on base.
Lowe vs. Arroyo on Saturday.