Mahle loses no-hitter in 7th, Reds beat Braves 9-7 in 12
CINCINNATI (AP) - Tyler Mahle lost his no-hit bid on Freddie Freeman's homer in the seventh, and the Cincinnati Reds blew a big late lead before Scooter Gennett connected in the 12th inning for a 9-7 victory over the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night.
Gennett hit his second homer of the game off left-hander Max Fried (0-1) for his first career game-ending shot.
Freeman started the Braves' late seven-run surge with his homer off Mahle, only the third ball the Braves managed to get out of the infield against the rookie right-hander. Freeman connected again as Atlanta scored four times in the ninth.
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Tyler Mahle throws during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Jared Hughes (1-2) escaped a two-on threat in the 10th and got the last eight outs.
Off to their worst start since the Great Depression, the 5-18 Reds rallied for their first set of back-to-back wins since last September - a span of 34 games - and got an encouraging performance from their most promising young starter.
The 23-year-old Mahle fanned a career-high 11 with a tailing fastball that caught the Braves gawking. Atlanta leads the majors in runs, but managed only two balls beyond the infield through six innings.
Freeman led off the seventh with a homer on the rookie's 90th pitch - Mahle turned his head and muttered a word in frustration as the ball left the bat. Kurt Suzuki had a two-run homer later in the inning.
Mahle drew attention on his way to the majors by throwing a no-hitter in Single-A in 2016 and a perfect game last April 22 at Double-A.
Freeman homered again in the ninth inning off Amir Garrett, starting a four-run rally. Ender Inciarte's bases-loaded, two-out single against Raisel Iglesias deflected off Gennett at second base for a 7-7 tie.
Joey Votto and Gennett hit their first homers - back-to-back solo shots in the fifth off Brandon McCarthy - as the Reds' sluggish offense showed signs of coming around.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: Manager Brian Snitker plans to give RH reliever Sam Freeman a couple days off. Freeman has made a team-high 14 appearances and struggled during a 10-4 loss on Monday. "This is probably the most he's been used early in a season in his career," Snitker said. "It's a new area for him to navigate through."
Reds: C Devin Mesoraco was scratched with a stiff neck. ... 3B Eugenio Suarez began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. He has been sidelined since April 8, when he was hit by Jameson Taillon's pitch and broke his right thumb.
UP NEXT
Braves: Matt Wisler (1-0, 1.29 ERA) is 1-1 career against the Reds in two starts and two relief appearances, allowing eight runs in 15 2/3 innings.
Reds: LH Brandon Finnegan (0-2, 11.05) makes his third start. He opened the season on the DL with a strained left biceps. He's given up nine runs in 7 1/3 innings.
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Cincinnati Reds' Scooter Gennett (3) celebrates with Joey Votto, right, after hitting a solo home run off Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati Reds' Scooter Gennett celebrates as he runs the bases after hitting a solo home run off Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Atlanta Braves' Kurt Suzuki runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run off Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Tyler Mahle in the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy reacts after the Cincinnati Reds scored three runs in the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Mahle follows through on a ground ball with the bases loaded during the second inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Cincinnati. Mahle reached first on a throwing error on a force attempt, and a run scored. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker, left, stands in the dugout during the first inning of the team's baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto (19) celebrates his solo home run off Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy with Adam Duvall during the fifth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 24, 2018, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)