McCoy: Padres’ walk-off win ends Reds’ six-game winning streak

The Reds were down, 2-0, entering the ninth inning and faced the daunting assignment of facing baseball’s best closer, Mark Melancon.

Two Reds rookies could not have cared less. Pinch-hitter Tyler Stephenson, facing a two-out 3-and-2 count, shot a run-scoring single up the middle to tie it.

On the next pitch, Jonathan India launched a two-run home run to give the Reds what seemed like an incredible win — a four-run ninth against a closer with 19 saves and a 0.64 earned run average.

The Padres, though, had other ideas in the bottom of the ninth.

Relief pitcher Ryan Hendrix walked Manny Machado on four pitches and with one out Eric Hosmer pulled a two-run game-tying home run down the right-field line to make it 4-4.

Garrett replaced Hendrix and Jake Cronenworth singled up the middle. Garrett slipped two strikes past Caratini, then became obsessed with Cronenworth and threw over to first base three times.

Then he hung one to Caratini and the game ended abruptly.

And so did Cincinnati’s six-game winning streak and eight-game road winning streak.

“Obviously it was disappointing, but it was just a great game for our team to be a part of,” said Reds manager David Bell. “We had a few guys in our bullpen tonight who weren’t options (Lucas Sims being one) because of how much we’ve used them recently.

“Ryan Hendrix is going to get that opportunity many more times in his career and so is Amir,” Bell added. “We just went up against a good team with good hitters and they came through just like we did.”

The Padres, though, hadn’t been good lately. They had lost 13 of their last 17, six of their last seven and were coming off being swept three games in Colorado by the Rockies.

Reds starter Wade Miley gave up only two hits through seven innings to, but both were homers that gave San Diego its 2-0 lead through eight innings.

The two hits that left the park were bashed by Fernando Tatis Jr., and Machado.

It was a premier matchup — two pitchers who have thrown no-hitters this season, Miley for the Reds and Joe Musgrove for the Padres.

And it was as advertised. Musgrove held the Reds to no runs and four hits over seven innings.

Miley held the Padres hitless through 5 2/3 innings and had retired 15 of 16 when Tatis came to bat with two outs in the sixth. Tatis picked on Miley’s first pitch and lobbed it over the left-center fence, his 22nd home run.

Miley had not given up a home run in 44 innings, the longest streak in the majors, but Tatis took care of that.

Machado led off the seventh and he, too, picked on Miley’s first pitch and put one into orbit, a 433-foot launch into the upper deck for a 2-0 lead.

The Reds put up four runs in the ninth inning against Melancon, who had given up only two earned runs all season. Joey Votto opened the inning with a single up the middle.

Eugenio Suarez struck out on a full count. Tucker Barnhart, 0 for 4 with four strikeouts for his career against Melancon, yanked a full-count double to right, putting runners on third and second with one out.

Kyle Farmer grounded to short and Votto scored to cut it to 2-1 with two outs and pinch-runner Scott Heineman on third, representing the tying run.

Pinch-hitter Stephenson worked the count from 0-and-2 to 3-and-2 and lined a game-tying single up the middle.

Then India unloaded his home run to make it 4-2.

The Padres, though, struck back big and sent their raucous full house crowd home happy. Machado opened the bottom of the ninth by drawing a four-pitch walk off Hendrix and with one out Hosmer pulled his game-tying home run down the right field line.

On came Garrett to eventually give up the game-winning home run.

THERE WAS SOME other not-so-great news on the injury front. Mike Moustakas aggravated his heel injury and was pulled off his rehab assignment with Class AAA Louisville. He will wear a boot for a week and then be evaluated.

“As it was explained to me, he re-aggravated it,” said Bell. “There was a scenario where it could have been torn, but that was not the case.”

Relief pitcher TeJay Antone is eligible to come off the injured list this weekend, but that may not happen.

“Antone is going to throw tomorrow (Friday), a high intensity day, get after it in a bullpen session. If that goes extremely well there will be a discussion on re-activating him,” said Bell. “Re-activation would be Sunday at the earliest. The other choice would be to give him one bullpen session on Sunday and activate him on Tuesday.”

And, finally, pitcher/outfielder Michael Lorenzen has insisted he’ll be ready by late this month, but Bell said Thursday that Lorenzen will not return until after the All-Star break.

“He is feeling really great and I felt it was getting close, but it won’t be until immediately after the All-Star break when he will be back pitching with us,” said Bell. “Based on information I received today, everybody is working toward him returning after the break.”