In a back-and-forth game between the two cellar-dwellers in the National League, the Braves edged out a 5-4 victory over the Reds in 11 innings.
Both young starting pitchers worked through early trouble to post solid outings, but the bullpen for both clubs gave up late runs that sent the game into extra innings.
Heading into the bottom of the ninth leading 4-2, the Braves called on Jim Johnson to close the game out. The Reds capitalized immediately with a Eugenio Suarez single and a Ramon Cabrera double. Tucker Barnhart pinch-hit and scored Suarez with a groundout, and Zack Cozart singled to score Jose Peraza, who pinch-ran, to tie the game at 4-4. Hunter Cervenka came in for relief and picked off Billy Hamilton to send the game into extras.
After a scoreless 10th inning, the Braves regained the lead in the top of the 11th inning. With Tony Cingrani on the mound, Nick Markakis led off with an opposite field single. Blake Wood came in for relief, and Jeff Francoeur blooped another opposite field single that sent Markakis to third base with nobody out. Ender Inciarte followed with a fly ball to center field that scored Markakis, but Francoeur was thrown out at second base for a double play. Anthony Recker grounded out to end the inning with the Braves leading 5-4 headed to the bottom half.
Mauricio Cabrera, who recorded the final two outs in the 10th inning with a runner in scoring position, stayed in for the close opportunity in the 11th. After giving up a one-out single, Cabrera closed the door with a 101-MPH fastball that struck out Cozart to give the Braves the win, 5-4.
Jenkins was introduced to Great American Ball Park quickly by the Reds in the bottom of the first inning. After retiring Cozart and Hamilton to begin the game, Jenkins showcased the lack of control that he struggled with for most of the night as he walked Joey Votto. He got behind in the count again against Jay Bruce, and Bruce made him pay for it with 3-1 fastball that he drove into left center field to give the Reds a 2-0 lead. Jenkins walked Adam Duvall for his second free pass of the inning and finally got out of the inning with a groundout from Brandon Phillips. Giving up two runs, one hit, and two walks, Jenkins threw 26 pitches in the first inning.
The Braves bounced back quickly in the top of the second inning with a bit of good fortune. Markakis singled to lead off the inning. After a Jeff Francoeur strike out, something he did three times in the game, Ender Inciarte reached first thanks to a Suarez fielding error. Anthony Recker followed with a walk to load the bases with just one out. Erick Aybar's single scored Markakis and Inciarte to knot the game up at 2-apiece.
Both young pitching prospects settled in for the remainder of their starts, throwing scoreless third, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Martin hadn't been past the fifth inning since his debut, but he finished his outing with six innings pitched, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks with five strikeouts. His ERA sank down to 6.75 for the season. Jenkins recorded his first quality start, going six innings while allowing just two runs on four hits and four walks. Even though he allowed just two walks after his two-walk first inning, Jenkins did struggle a bit with command, something that has plagued him since coming through the minors. He threw 107 pitches in the game with 49 of them being balls.
After four scoreless innings between both teams, the Braves finally took the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Aybar led off with a four-pitch walk with Michael Lorenzen on the mound. Jace Peterson pinch-hit for Jenkins, effectively ending his night on the mound, but struck out on a Lorenzen slider. Lorenzen's next pitch would also be a slider, but the result was much different -- Gordon Beckham lifted it over the seats in left field to put the Braves on top, 4-2.
The Braves and Reds will close out their three-game series in some matinee baseball on Wednesday afternoon at 12:35 P.M. Lucas Harrell will be on the mound for Atlanta.