With the Reds' offense stuck in neutral most of the night, they needed their defense and bullpen to hold the Washington Nationals at bay. The defense came through in spectacular fashion while the 'pen was just good enough in a 4-3 extra-inning victory.
Not once but twice potential game-winning two-out hits died in the gloves of Cincinnati defenders in extra innings, and Todd Frazier made those plays really count when he bashed a two-run homer for the eventual game-winning runs in the 15th inning.
First came Brandon Phillips, who did his best Superman impression by going airborne behind second base to snag a line drive off the bat of Wilson Ramos that looked sure to score Denard Span from third base. Two innings later, speedy center fielder Billy Hamilton laid out for a ball perhaps no one else in the game could have gotten to as Anthony Rendon tried to drop one into the gap in right-center with Kevin Frandsen on third base.
Noted Reds fan Charlie Sheen approved.
THANK U BRANDON P!!!! epic wow c #HumanHiLight http://t.co/YtIpy9rWJQ
— Charlie Sheen (@charliesheen) May 20, 2014
THANK U BILLY H !!! wow epic c #TheFlash http://t.co/X9RuNqzghO
— Charlie Sheen (@charliesheen) May 20, 2014
As for the bullpen, Aroldis Chapman allowed a run in the ninth to blow a save and Logan Ondrusek -- who benefited from Hamilton's defensive play in the 14th -- allowed a run in the 15th, but Jonathan Broxton, Manny Parra and J.J. Hoover all had scoreless outings. Ondrusek picked up his first win of the season while allowing a run on three hits in two innings.
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