Cincinnati Reds earn another comeback win, extend winning streak to 5 games vs. Oakland

OAKLAND – After the Cincinnati Reds notched three consecutive wins in their last at-bat earlier this week, they decided to follow a similar script Saturday in Oakland.

Trailing by a run in the ninth inning, the Reds loaded the bases with two walks and an infield single. Jake Fraley, who stepped into the batter’s box against Athletics closer Jeurys Familia with two outs, broke his bat on a ground ball down the first-base line. The ball deflected off the first-base bag – MLB implemented slightly bigger bases this year – and took a high bounce into right field for a go-ahead two-run double.

Fraley’s clutch double gave the Reds their first lead of the afternoon and closer Alexis Díaz earned his fourth save of the season by striking out the side to secure a 3-2 comeback win at the Oakland Coliseum. The win extended their winning streak to five games, matching their longest win streak of the 2022 season.

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Four of the five wins during the Reds’ winning streak came from runs in their last at-bats. Fraley celebrated at second base with a yell as the dugout erupted. It was the second time Fraley had a go-ahead hit in the ninth inning this year on the road, both through broken-bat hits.

The Reds were one out away from handing Hunter Greene a tough luck loss when he allowed two unearned runs in one of his more dominant starts of the season.

Greene overpowered hitters all afternoon, matching his season high with 10 strikeouts, but he was the one who paid the price for a few defensive gaffes. Both unearned runs scored in the second inning. Nick Senzel, starting at third base, fielded a ground ball with his bare hand while moving to his left, but he spiked a throw with a slow runner.

Two batters later, Reds right fielder Henry Ramos had a bad jump on a fly ball from Ramón Laureano. Ramos took his first step in the wrong direction, and he couldn’t make up ground as the ball dropped in front of him for a double.

With runners on second and third, Greene struck out the next batter and was on the verge of escaping the jam. Then he gave up back-to-back RBI groundball singles to Aledmys Díaz and Jordan Diaz, the bottom two hitters in Oakland’s lineup, in 0-2 counts.

Greene lasted only five innings because he required 112 pitches to record 15 outs, but A’s batters whiffed on nearly half their swings. He allowed five hits: Four ground balls that rolled through the infield and the fifth was Ramos’ misplay in right field.

Takeaways from the Reds’ game vs. the A’s

1. The Reds have shown more aggressiveness on the basepaths over the last couple of weeks, something they’ve emphasized since spring training, but Saturday looked as reckless as it did aggressive. They had two runners thrown out at third base in the first two innings.

Spencer Steer, who hit a one-out double in the first inning, was caught stealing third by catcher Carlos Pérez despite a slow delivery from lefthanded starter Kyle Muller. In the second inning, Tyler Stephenson attempted to tag up from second base when right fielder Ramon Laureano caught a ball in foul territory. Laureano, who possesses one of the strongest arms in the game, threw out Stephenson by several steps.

2. Due to all the outs on the basepaths – Stuart Fairchild lined into an inning-ending double play with Jonathan India on third base in the third inning – it felt like the Reds were on the brink of a breakthrough against Muller.

Then the bats went quiet. Muller retired eight of his last nine hitters and Reds hitters didn’t show any improvement against Oakland’s bullpen minus a broken-bat double on a ground ball.

3. Luke Maile, who hit his first home run of the season in the third inning, has caught three of Greene’s last four starts and they appear to have a good rapport. The numbers from those three starts: 17 innings, 16 hits, four earned runs, five walks, 26 strikeouts and a 2.12 ERA.

The Reds generally shy away from personal catchers, but it could be a way to set a regular rotation with three catchers on the roster.

Stat of the day

The A’s, with the loss, have lost nine consecutive home games.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Jake Fraley, Cincinnati Reds earn another comeback win to shock A's