Reds seethe as winning streak ends
Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco yelled at home-plate umpire Chad Fairchild as head coach Dusty Baker, right, stepped in to pull him back. Mesoraco was ejected for arguing balls and strikes in the third inning against the Padres.
CINCINNATI » Mike Leake didn’t even last two innings. Catcher Devin Mesoraco got ejected and bumped an umpire on the way out. The pitching staff walked a season-high 11 batters in all.
One of the longest streaks in Reds history ended with a lot of ugliness.
Will Venable drove in four runs with a single and a bases-loaded triple Monday night, and the San Diego Padres ended Cincinnati’s 10-game winning streak with an 11-5 victory that left the Reds with a bad taste.
"It seemed like we were dragging," manager Dusty Baker said. "It was a bad night for everybody. We haven’t been blown out in a long time."
The Reds were trying to extend only the eighth double-digit winning streak in franchise history. The 1939 and 1957 clubs share the franchise record with 12 straight wins.
Not even close.
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Leake (4-7) retired only five batters in the shortest start of his career. The Reds’ 11 walks were their most in a nine-inning game since 2004. Mesoraco was ejected for arguing balls and strikes, then poked a finger at plate umpire Chad Fairchild’s chest protector and bumped him before leaving.
The rookie catcher faces a suspension.
"I think, first and foremost, the game wasn’t going the way we hoped and there was some frustration there," Mesoraco said. "I disagreed with his calls throughout the game. You saw what happened next.
"Frustration got the best of me and I lost my cool. You want to stand up for your pitcher. I’m not perfect by any means."
Former Reds played starring roles in stopping their streak. Edinson Volquez
(7-7) got the win, and Yonder Alonso tied a Padres record with three doubles.
"It’s very special," Alonso said about his return to Great American Ball Park. "This was my home at one point and I was excited. The guys here were great. They showed me the way."
The former Reds reminded their old team what it feels like to get knocked around. They had a lot of help from the rest of the lineup, too.
Mariners trade League to DodgersLOS ANGELES » The Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered their bullpen for a playoff run, acquiring former All-Star reliever and Saint Louis School alum Brandon League from the Seattle Mariners for two prospects Monday night. The teams announced the deal a day before the deadline to make trades without waivers. Seattle also sent righty reliever Steve Delabar to the Blue Jays for outfielder Eric Thames. "New league, new hitters, new teammates," League said after the Mariners’ 4-1 win over Toronto, a game in which he did not pitch. "It’s definitely an exciting time. Now, it’s a new chapter in my life and go help the Dodgers try and win a ring." The Dodgers sent outfielder Leon Landry and right-handed pitcher Logan Bawcom to Seattle. League was 0-5 with nine saves and a 3.63 ERA in 46 games this season. The 29-year-old righty was an All-Star last year when he had 37 saves for the M’s. He has been particularly tough on right-handed hitters, holding them to a .225 batting average during his career. He is 17-27 with 54 saves and a 3.69 ERA since 2004 with Toronto and Seattle. He said he had an inkling a deal might be in the works. "You can’t ignore the rumors, and the deadline’s the deadline. The past three years you’ve been hearing stuff whether it be during the trade deadline or even in the offseason," he said. "But I have said nothing, but expressed how much I love Seattle and wanted to stay here. But, I’m a free agent at the end of the year. You never know what’s going to happen … and this happened." |
Braves 8, Marlins 2
Jason Heyward homered and scored three runs and host Atlanta snapped a string of 16 straight losses on Mondays, including 12 this season, by beating Miami.
Cubs 14, Pirates 4
Anthony Rizzo and Darwin Barney hit three-run homers to power host Chicago to its highest-scoring game of the season.
Brewers 8, Astros 7
Cody Ransom’s homer capped a four-run burst in the eighth inning and host Milwaukee held off Houston after firing bullpen coach Stan Kyles.
Diamondbacks 7, Dodgers 2
Chris Johnson hit a grand slam in his first game with Arizona and Paul Goldschmidt hit a three-run shot in the first inning — both off Aaron Harang — in the victory over host Los Angeles.
Mets 8, Giants 7, 10 inn.
Scott Hairston hit his second homer of the game, connecting in the 10th inning to send visiting New York past reeling San Francisco, loser of five straight.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Red Sox 7, Tigers 3
Dustin Pedroia hit a tie-breaking homer and drove in three runs to support Clay Buchholz’s eight solid innings in leading host Boston to its third straight win.
Orioles 5, Yankees 4
Nick Markakis drove in two runs, backing a solid outing by rookie Miguel Gonzalez, and visiting Baltimore held on to beat New York.
Twins 7, White Sox 6
Jamey Caroll’s sacrifice fly in the ninth inning scored Alexi Casilla and sent host Minnesota to its fourth straight win.
Mariners 4, Blue Jays 1
Hisashi Iwakuma struck out a career-high 13 to help host Seattle win its fifth straight.
Athletics 4, Rays 3, 15 inn.
Jemile Weeks hit a sacrifice fly in the 15th inning and host Oakland outlasted Tampa Bay for the Athletics’ MLB-best 12th walk-off win of the season.
Oakland optioned catcher Derek Norris to Triple-A Sacramento to make room for catcher George Kottaras, perhaps a sign that Maui’s Kurt Suzuki has the starting job to himself again.
