Phils and Reds Play Cat and Mouse, Reds Come Out On Top, 5-4

Cliff Lee received another no-decision tonight in a back-and-forth game between the Phillies and Reds. Both teams battled for a lead throughout the final three innings, but the Reds would come out victorious. 

The Phillies put up a run on the board in the first inning; Ryan Howard singled to deep right to score Jimmy Rollins.

That's the only scoring that went on for seven innings. Cliff Lee was absolutely dominating the Reds' lineup tonight, only seeing trouble in the sixth. The bases were loaded with nobody out when Kevin Frandsen made a beautiful heads-up play, gunning the runner out at home, protecting the 1-0 lead. Cliff Lee then got Jay Bruce to ground into a double play, avoiding a tied ballgame.

Until…

Scott Rolen doubled, Todd Frazier walked, then Ryan Hanigan singled to center, scoring Rolen. Later, Frazier scored on a sacrifice fly from Zack Cozart. Hanigan scored on a bloop single to left from Drew Stubbs, and that would be it for Clifton Phifer Lee. B.J. Rosenberg came in and retired the side, striking out Ryan Ludwick to end the inning.

Cliff's line: 6.2 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 117 pitches, 85 for strikes.

The Phillies weren't going to let the Reds get away that easily. In the bottom of the seventh, Jimmy Rollins drilled a two-run double down the left field line, scoring Frandsen and Kratz. Tied ballgame.

With Bastardo in for the eighth inning, Todd Frazier sent a ball deep into the seats in left field, giving his team a 4-3 lead. That would be the only run or hit Tony allowed. 

Jonathan Broxton fell victim to a new Phillie tonight. Kevin Frandsen joined the list of others who have come up with HUGE hits against him (Matt Stairs, Jimmy Rollins, Carlos Ruiz) with an RBI triple in the eighth, scoring Dom Brown to tie the ballgame up again. 

Zack Cozart would have none of that. The first pitch he saw from Jonathan Papelbon he sent to the stands for a solo homer, giving the Reds a 5-4 lead.

That homer would be the last run scored in this game. The Phillies couldn't come back in the bottom of the ninth against Aroldis Chapman, dropping game two of this series, 5-4. 

Vance Worley will look to come back from a few shaky starts tomorrow at 7: 05. Bronson Arroyo will take the hill for the Reds.