CINCINNATI (AP) — Noelvi Marte hit a game-ending, two-run single after Cincinnati lost the tying run on a rare lodged ball call, and the Reds rallied to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4 Monday following a ninth-inning bullpen meltdown.
Toronto’s AL East lead was cut to 2 1/2 games over the idle New York Yankees. Cincinnati remained four games back of the New York Mets for the last NL wild card.
Cincinnati led 2-1 before back-to-back homers in the ninth by Bo Bichette, who hit a two-run drive off Emilio Pagán for his fourth hit, and Daulton Varsho.
Ke’Bryan Hayes singled off Tommy Nance leading off the bottom half and Matt McLain singled with one out. Brendon Little (4-2) relieved and TJ Friedl doubled into the right-field corner as Hayes and McLain crossed the plate.
After a video review, umpires ruled that because the ball lodged in a gap in the fence, each runner could advance two bases, causing McLain to be sent back to third.
Marte then singled to left as McLain went home and Friedl slid in head first ahead of Myles Straw’s throw, which was slightly up the third-base line.
Yosver Zulueta (1-0) got the last two outs in the ninth for his first major league win.
Sal Stewart, a 21-year-old first baseman, was brought up from Triple-A by the Reds for his major league debut as rosters expanded and went 1 for 3. He singled in the second off Chris Bassitt and scored on Ke’Bryan Hayes’ two-run double.
Hunter Greene allowed three hits through six innings before Bichette doubled in the seventh and scored on Alejandro Kirk’s single. Greene reached 100 mph with 21 pitches,
KEY MOMENT
Bichette’s four-hit game was his sixth, tying for second-most with the Blue Jays behind Vernon Wells’ 10.
KEY STAT
Bassitt walked Friedl starting the game, ending a streak of four consecutive games in which Toronto pitchers hadn’t walked a batter. It was the Blue Jays’ longest streak without issuing a walk since June 14-17 last year.
UP NEXT
Blue Jays RHP José Berríos (9-5, 3.95) and Reds LHP Nick Lodolo (8-7, 3.22) start Tuesday.
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