The Cincinnati Reds dropped a tough one in Atlanta on Wednesday, September 23, falling 3-2 to the Braves in 10 innings. Andrew Abbott gave the Reds every chance to win, working seven innings and allowing just two earned runs on six hits while striking out six, but Cincinnati's bullpen ultimately couldn't protect a late tie, as the Braves walked off with the one-run victory. Reliever Luis Mey took the loss after allowing the decisive hit in the 10th.

Andrew Abbott Gives Reds Seven Solid Innings

Abbott was the story for seven frames. The left-hander held a dangerous Atlanta lineup to six hits and one walk over seven innings, finishing with six strikeouts and two earned runs allowed. That line would hold up in plenty of ballgames. Against a Braves lineup that got home runs from Matt Olson and Austin Riley on Wednesday, Abbott managed to limit the damage and keep Cincinnati in the game deep into the night.

The opposition starter, Chris Sale, was no slouch either. Sale went 5.2 innings, striking out 10 Reds batters while allowing just one earned run on four hits and zero walks. That strikeout total kept Cincinnati's lineup off balance for the better part of six innings and set the tone for a low-scoring affair that ultimately required extra innings to decide.

Juan Brito and Matt McLain Provide Cincinnati's Offense

The Reds got what offense they could muster from a pair of contributors. Juan Brito went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI, providing Cincinnati's clearest offensive moment of the night. Matt McLain also finished 2-for-4, though he was unable to drive in a run. With Sale racking up strikeouts at a high clip, those two were among the Reds' most reliable bats on the evening.

Turning Point: The Braves' 10th-Inning Walk-Off

Cincinnati carried the game to extras, which itself represented a small victory given how dominant Sale was through the middle innings. The Reds had clawed back to tie the game after falling behind — overcoming a one-run deficit — but the bullpen couldn't close it out in the 10th. Luis Mey allowed a hit in his 0.1 innings of work, and that was enough. The Braves scored the walk-off run to end it 3-2, with Brent Suter earning the win in relief for Atlanta.

Pierce Johnson had been sharp in his inning of work — two strikeouts, no hits, no runs — but the back end of the Cincinnati bullpen didn't have enough to get through the extra frame. Mey's inability to strand the automatic runner in the 10th proved to be the final, decisive moment.

Olson and Riley Each Homer for Atlanta

Matt Olson and Austin Riley each went 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI for the Braves, accounting for two of Atlanta's three runs. Mauricio Dubón added two hits and an RBI of his own to round out the Braves' offensive contributions. Those two solo shots off Abbott were enough to keep Atlanta ahead for the majority of regulation, and Cincinnati's late rally brought the game to extras, where a single hit in the 10th ultimately decided it.

What's Next for the Reds

  • Cincinnati continues its road series against the Atlanta Braves following Wednesday's extra-innings defeat.
  • The Reds will look to bounce back and split or win the series after dropping this close contest in 10 innings.
  • Abbott's outing — 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K — stands as one of the stronger individual efforts of the trip and gives the rotation something to build on.
  • The bullpen's ability to navigate high-leverage extra-inning situations will remain a point of focus heading into the final stretch of the regular season.

Wednesday's loss stings precisely because the Reds did so many things right. Abbott was excellent. The offense battled back. But a one-run game in extras came down to one hit, one run, and a walk-off that sent the home crowd home happy. The Reds move on and try to even the series.