Giving points to Rocky for creativity. They keep looking for ways to lose baseball games on the go.

Jonathan India hit infielder Chopper and scored Spencer Steer from third base on a walk-off single to lead Cincinnati to a 3-2 victory at the Great American Ballpark on Friday night.

Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland got off to a strong start.

Steer was instrumental in the Reds’ victory after making a brilliant debut in the major leagues. He hit a solo homer in the fifth inning and a double into right field corner off right-hander Alex Colomé in the ninth. Steer advanced to third on Colome’s wild pitch and scored on India’s infield hit against five infielders.

Colorado is now 20-45 away from Coors Field, ranking last in the majors for a .308 winning percentage and the third lowest road winning percentage in franchise history.

Early on, there were specs of good news. Rookie left fielder Sean Bouchard hit a commemorative home run in the second inning to give the Rockies a 2–0 lead. After Elias Diaz reached a one-out single, Bouchard hit lefty right-hander Luis Cessa for the first home run of his career.

“Sean had a great year in Triple-A and we wanted him to look good in the big leagues,” manager Bud Black said of Bouchard via AT&T SportsNet. “He’s been doing a great job since coming back (to the majors). Tonight he’s got two steps and a home run.”

Ryan McMahon followed up Bouchard’s homer with a single and advanced to third on Charlie Blackmon’s double. However, CJ Kron struck out and Colorado’s big inning chance was lost.

From the 4th to the 9th, Colorado managed one hit and four Cincinnati relievers from Sessa. It was a harmless leadoff single by José Iglesias in the seventh inning.

Bouchard drew a walk to take the lead for the eighth, but then made a big mistake. He misread Brendan Rodgers’ line drive to right field and thought it would be a slug. However, Arstrides Aquino ran the ball in for the catch, and he doubled Bouchard first for an inning-ending double play.

Freeland was nearly on point through the first four innings. However, third baseman Stair, who led in the fifth, crushed Freeland’s 2–1 sinker into center field, reducing Colorado’s lead to 2–1.

Freeland ran into traffic in the sixth, resulting in a one-out single to Donovan Solano and a bunt single to Stuart Fairchild. Out in second, he pitched around Steer to load the bases loaded before making way for right-hander Justin Lawrence, but maintained the lead by striking out Jose Valero.

As gritty as ever, Freeland allowed eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, but allowed just one run. In his last five trips, he’s 2-1 with a 2.46 ERA.

“The obvious thing is we’re not[pitching]at height,” Freeland told AT&T SportsNet. “It’s a little easier to break things here. I’m not saying it’s easier to be sharp here, but I notice the pitch goes deeper and that helps a lot.”

Cincinnati tied the game at 2–2 in the seventh on pinch-hitter Jake Fraley’s leadoff home run off reliever Dinelson Lammett. The Reds beat the Rockies, he went 11-6.

on deck
Rockies RHP German Marquez (7-10, ERA 4.97) Reds LHP Nick Rodro (3-5, 4.30)
Saturday 4:40 PM Great American Ballpark
tv set: attribute
wireless: KOA 850 AM/94.1 FM

Is the real Marquez back? perhaps. An All-Star last season, the right-hander got off to a great start at Citi Field in New York, where he went scoreless in seven innings in Colorado’s 1-0 win over the Mets. He allowed his one hit, two walks, and five strikeouts. Marquez has allowed three or fewer goals in seven of his last nine games, and his ERA is 3.49, giving him a 3-3 record. The Reds defeated him the last time he pitched at the Great American His Ballpark on June 12, 2021. Marquez allowed 9 runs (8 earned runs) in 5 innings where he allowed 12 hits. He’s 3-1 in his four starts with Cincinnati, with a 5.40 ERA, seven walks and 26 strikeouts.

It will be Lodoro’s 14th start of the season and first against the Rockies. Lodoro on Sunday he had five hits for which he had three runs, and in seven innings he had one walk and five strikeouts in the loss to Washington. Lodoro, who is on the injured reserve list this season, will be looking for his first win since July 25th. Since that win, he has appeared in six games, going 0-2 with a 3.89 ERA.

trend: Coming into Friday’s game, Charlie Blackmon’s .345 average in runners in scoring ranks fifth in the National League and ninth in the majors. 444 (20 to 45) on his RISP since July 1, which is his third highest average in the majors.

problem: After appearing in 85 games before the All-Star break, Conor Joe appeared in just 19 games, batting .131 (8-61).

Throwing probability:
Sunday: Rockies RHP Jose Urena (3-5, 5.80) vs Reds RHP Chase Anderson (0-1, 27.00), 11:40am, ATTRM
Monday: Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (4-3, 3.56) vs Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (2-6, 5.78), 2:10 pm, ATTRM
Tuesday: Brewers RHP Brandon Woodruff (9-4, 3.54) vs Rockies RHP Chad Kuhl (6-8, 5.19), 6:40 pm, ATTRM