The Cincinnati Reds (31-54) defeated the Tampa Bay Reds (45-39) 5-4 in ten innings on Saturday night in Ohio. It was the second consecutive extra inning win for the Reds over the Rays in the three game interleague series.
Rays shortstop Wander Franco left the game with a wrist injury after an at bat in the first inning. Rays manager Kevin Cash said after the game the problem was likely a hamate issue, which could leave him out of action for 6-8 weeks.
Center fielder Kevin Kiermaier also appears to be headed back to the IL, having another left hip issue.
The Rays took a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning thanks to RBI hits from Francisco Mejia and Harold Ramirez. The Reds answered with three runs in the bottom of the eighth to force extra innings. Harold Ramirez came through again in the tenth with a RBI double to give the Rays a 4-3 lead, but Tampa Bay could not hold on.
The Reds got a run in the bottom of the tenth off a wild pitch from Calvin Faucher (1-3, 7.11) to tie the game 4-4. Moments later Nick Senzel walked off with a RBI single that gave Cincinnati a 5-4 win.
The Rays now look to salvage the series finale in Cincinnati on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 PM - pregame coverage begins with Neil Solondz hosting This Week In Rays Baseball at high noon on 95.3 WDAE & AM 620.
PHOTO COURTESY GETTY IMAGES