CINCINNATI (AP) — Limited to pinch hitting for most of the past month, Devin Mesoraco finally got a chance to make a difference.

The catcher with a sore hip doubled home the winning run with one out in the ninth inning on Tuesday night, sending the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-3 victory over the slumping Atlanta Braves.

The Reds snapped a three-game losing streak with the first game-ending hit of Mesoraco’s career.

“I haven’t done it before,” he said. “I’ve had situations where I wish I could have done it. I’m just thankful I got a good pitch to hit and put a good swing on it.”

The Braves let a 3-2 lead slip away in the seventh with the help of starter Mike Foltynewicz’s throwing error, and wound up losing for the fourth time in five games.

Jason Grilli (0-2) made his first appearance in six days after being sidelined by a sore back and gave up a one-out single by Brayan Pena for his third hit of the game. Mesoraco, who hasn’t caught a game in a month because of an aching hip, then doubled into the corner in left field.

It’s been a tough time for Mesoraco, who was one of the Reds’ five All-Stars last year.

“That’s not what I was looking for this season,” he said. “Getting this opportunity definitely helps.”

Pena, who is Mesoraco’s backup, had his first three-hit game of the season. He is batting .588 (10 for 17) in his last five games.

“He’s been terrific,” manager Bryan Price said. “He’s been great behind the plate and terrific with the bat. It’s a big help when you lose someone like Devin to have someone like Pena to step in.”

Aroldis Chapman (2-2) gave up a walk in the ninth. The Reds closer had allowed ninth-inning runs in each of the two previous games, both losses.

Atlanta moved ahead 3-2 against Anthony DeSclafani, who had lost each of his previous three starts. Nick Markakis had a pair of hits and drove in a run, and Jace Peterson singled, doubled and scored.

Foltynewicz settled down after yielding Todd Frazier’s two-run homer in the first. He lasted a career-high 6 2/3 innings and struck out seven.

His worst throw was to second base.

Pena opened the seventh with a single, and Zack Cozart bunted back to the mound while trying to sacrifice. Foltynewicz fielded the ball and threw into center field while trying for a forceout. Marlon Byrd’s sacrifice fly tied it.

Frazier talked before the game about how he ached to get back to the All-Star home run derby, where he was the runner-up last year to Oakland’s Yoenis Cespedes. The All-Star Game and derby are at Great American Ball Park, one of the majors’ most homer-friendly facilities.

Frazier’s drive in the first inning gave him 11 for the season, tying Washington’s Bryce Harper for the NL lead.

GOT HIM

A.J. Pierzynski threw out Cincinnati’s Billy Hamilton when he tried to steal second base in the first inning. It was only the second time that Hamilton has been caught stealing in 19 attempts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: Cozart was out of the starting lineup for the fifth time in the last eight games because of a sore left wrist that was hit by a pitch. … Second baseman Brandon Phillips left in the eighth with a sore big left toe.

UP NEXT

Braves: Eric Stults makes his second start of the season against Cincinnati. He gave up six runs and 11 hits in seven innings of an 8-4 loss on May 2 at Turner Field.

Reds: Right-hander Raisel Iglesias makes his second professional start on Wednesday. He gave up three runs in five innings of a 7-5 loss at St. Louis on April 12 and was sent to the minors.

———

Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay

 

Braves 2, Reds 1

Atlanta AB R H BI BB SO Avg.

Markakis rf 4 0 2 1 1 1 .306

A.Simmons ss 5 1 1 0 0 1 .279

Freeman 1b 3 1 1 0 2 0 .333

K.Johnson lf 3 0 2 1 1 0 .259

d-J.Gomes ph-lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 .203

Callaspo 3b 4 0 0 1 0 0 .218

Pierzynski c 5 0 0 0 0 1 .311

Peterson 2b 3 1 2 0 1 0 .293

Young Jr. cf 2 0 0 0 0 1 .159

Maybin cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 .225

Foltynewicz p 3 0 0 0 0 2 .167

Avilan p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

b-Gosselin ph 1 0 1 0 0 0 .286

Ji.Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

Grilli p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

Totals 34 3 9 3 6 6

 

Cincinnati AB R H BI BB SO Avg.

B.Hamilton cf 3 0 1 0 0 0 .202

Byrd lf 2 0 0 1 1 1 .209

Votto 1b 2 1 0 0 2 0 .299

Frazier 3b 3 1 1 2 1 1 .236

Phillips 2b 3 0 0 0 0 3 .311

c-Schumaker ph-2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 .219

Bruce rf 4 0 1 0 0 1 .173

Negron ss 4 0 1 0 0 2 .116

B.Pena c 4 1 3 0 0 0 .356

1-Lorenzen pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .200

DeSclafani p 2 0 0 0 0 1 .077

Hoover p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

a-Cozart ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .320

Ju.Diaz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

A.Chapman p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

e-Mesoraco ph 1 0 1 1 0 0 .143

Totals 30 4 8 4 4 9

 

Atlanta 002 100 000 — 3 9 1

Cincinnati 200 000 101 — 4 8 0

 

One out when winning run scored.

a-reached on error for Hoover in the 7th. b-doubled for Avilan in the 8th. c-grounded out for Phillips in the 8th. d-walked for K.Johnson in the 9th. e-doubled for A.Chapman in the 9th.

1-ran for B.Pena in the 9th.

E—Foltynewicz (1). LOB—Atlanta 12, Cincinnati 7. 2B—Markakis (5), K.Johnson (3), Peterson (1), Gosselin (3), B.Pena (4), Mesoraco (1). HR—Frazier (11), off Foltynewicz. RBIs—Markakis (9), K.Johnson (18), Callaspo (7), Byrd (18), Frazier 2 (21), Mesoraco (2). SB—Peterson (3). CS—B.Hamilton (2), Bruce (1). S—Young Jr., B.Hamilton. SF—Callaspo, Byrd.

Runners left in scoring position—Atlanta 6 (Callaspo, Pierzynski 2, A.Simmons 2, Markakis); Cincinnati 3 (Phillips, DeSclafani, Votto). RISP—Atlanta 2 for 13; Cincinnati 0 for 3.

DP—Atlanta 1 (Pierzynski, Pierzynski, Peterson).

 

Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA

Foltynewicz 6 2-3 6 3 2 4 7 104 4.24

Avilan 1-3 0 0 0 0 0 2 3.07

Ji.Johnson 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 3.31

Grilli L, 0-2 1-3 2 1 1 0 1 10 5.23

Cincinnati IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA

DeSclafani 6 7 3 3 3 5 108 2.79

Hoover 1 1 0 0 1 1 20 3.21

Ju.Diaz 1 1 0 0 1 0 19 7.11

A.Chapman W, 2-2 1 0 0 0 1 0 17 1.17

Inherited runners-scored—Avilan 1-0. IBB—off Ju.Diaz (Markakis).

Umpires—Home, Sam Holbrook; First, Cory Blaser; Second, Jeff Nelson; Third, Laz Diaz.

T—2:46. A—23,780 (42,319).