CINCINNATI (AP) — Cody Reed finally gave a good showing in the majors, an encouraging sign for a Reds team that took another tough loss.

The Reds rallied for a pair of runs to tie it in the ninth, but Ender Inciarte hit a sacrifice fly in the 11th that sent the Atlanta Braves to a 5-4 victory on Tuesday night, evening a series between the NL’s worst teams.

Reed had lost his last four starts and was struggling in his adjustment to the majors. The right-hander finally got it right in his sixth start, allowing two unearned runs and five hits in six innings.

“He was really strong over the final few innings, and that’s something we’d like to see more of,” manager Bryan Price said. “I thought he slowed his tempo down to the point where it was controllable.”

Reed gave up several hard-hit balls in the first two innings but escaped trouble and relaxed for the first time.

“I was really trying to keep my confidence level up,” Reed said. “The first two innings, I was too quick. I was rushing the ball.”

Jay Bruce hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Tyrell Jenkins, who went six innings in his second major league start. It was Bruce’s 19th homer and gave him 66 runs batted in.

The Reds fell behind 4-2 when Gordon Beckham hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the seventh.

Beckham broke his 0-for-16 slump with a single in the first, and then connected off reliever Michael Lorenzen for his first homer since July 9.

“You certainly want to go after anybody in that situation, but Lorenzen just wasn’t locked in,” Price said.

Atlanta’s bullpen blew a late lead for the second time in four games.

Jim Johnson gave up four hits and a pair of runs in the ninth.

Zack Cozart tied it with a single. Johnson, who is filling in as the closer, has blown three of his five save chances.

Nick Markakis started Atlanta’s winning rally with a single off Tony Cingrani (2-3) and took third on Jeff Francoeur’s single off Blake Wood. Inciarte’s fly to deep center broke the tie.

Mauricio Cabrera (1-0) got the last five outs for his first career win. The 22-year-old reliever fanned Cozart on a 102 mph fastball to end it.

The win evened the teams’ season series at three games apiece. Atlanta is last in the NL at 33-61. Cincinnati is next at 35-59.

STATS

Since returning from a left hamstring injury, Beckham is 6 for 31 in eight games. … Bruce’s homer gave him a team-high 66 RBIs. The Reds are looking to trade the right fielder this month — they had a deal fall through in the offseason.

SO LONG

Braves interim manager Brian Snitker was ejected in the 10th by first base umpire Angel Hernandez. Adonis Garcia singled and was picked off by Cingrani. Snitker argue that the left-hander had balked.

CROSSING SPORTS

Bengals cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones was the field for batting practice. He talked to several players and signed autographs for fans.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: RHP Shae Simmons felt good a day after he threw nearly 30 pitches in a simulated game. He’ll start a rehab assignment in a couple of days. Simmons is recovering from Tommy John surgery a year ago.

Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips was back in the starting lineup. He missed two games with a strained right calf, returned on Monday night and left after tweaking it in the fifth inning. … RHP Jon Moscot had Tommy John surgery. He went 0-3 with an 8.02 ERA in five starts for the Reds. He also had two stints on the disabled list.

UP NEXT

Braves: Lucas Harrell (1-1) makes his fourth start. He’s faced the Reds once before, allowing two runs in five innings in 2013.

Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (4-0) makes his eighth start. He’s had six quality starts, most on the staff. DeSclafani is 4-0 in his last five starts with a 2.67 ERA.

———

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

TUESDAY’S GAME

Reds 8, Braves 2

Atlanta AB R H BI BB SO Avg.

Beckham 2b 5 1 2 2 0 0 .262

Garcia 3b 5 0 1 0 0 0 .257

Freeman 1b 5 0 0 0 0 2 .274

Markakis rf 5 2 3 0 0 0 .260

Francoeur lf 5 0 1 0 0 3 .255

Inciarte cf 3 1 1 1 1 0 .236

Recker c 4 0 0 0 1 1 .222

Aybar ss 3 1 2 1 1 0 .212

Jenkins p 2 0 0 0 0 1 .000

a-Peterson ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .274

Alvarez p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

Withrow p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

c-Pierzynski ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 .215

Johnson p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

Cervenka p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

M.Cabrera p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

Totals 39 5 10 4 3 8

 

Cincinnati AB R H BI BB SO Avg.

Cozart ss 6 0 1 1 0 1 .261

Hamilton cf 5 0 1 0 0 1 .244

Votto 1b 2 1 2 0 3 0 .270

Bruce rf 5 1 1 2 0 1 .263

Duvall lf 3 0 1 0 1 1 .245

Phillips 2b 5 0 1 0 0 0 .260

Wood p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Suarez 3b 5 1 3 0 0 0 .230

R.Cabrera c 4 0 1 0 0 0 .266

1-Peraza pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 .237

Cingrani p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

De Jesus 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 .241

Reed p 2 0 0 0 0 1 .000

Lorenzen p 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

b-Holt ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 .223

Diaz p 0 0 0 0 0 0 —

d-Barnhart ph-c 2 0 0 1 0 0 .266

Totals 41 4 12 4 4 6

 

 

Atlanta 020 000 200 01 = 5 10 1

Cincinnati 200 000 002 00 = 4 12 2

 

a-struck out for Wood in the 6th. b-grounded out for De La Cra-struck out for Jenkins in the 7th. b-struck out for Lorenzen in the 7th. c-grounded out for Withrow in the 9th. d-grounded out for Diaz in the 9th.

1-ran for R.Cabrera in the 9th.

E—Aybar (11), Bruce (5), Suarez (16). LOB—Atlanta 5, Cincinnati 9. 2B—Phillips (17), Suarez (6), R.Cabrera (6). HR—Beckham (4), off Lorenzen; Bruce (19), off Jenkins. RBIs—Beckham 2 (19), Inciarte (12), Aybar (15), Cozart (40), Bruce 2 (66), Barnhart (22). SB—Inciarte (10). CS—Hamilton (5). SF—Inciarte.

Runners left in scoring position—Atlanta 2 (Beckham, Jenkins); Cincinnati 4 (Cozart, Phillips 2, R.Cabrera). RISP—Atlanta 2 for 5; Cincinnati 1 for 10.

Runners moved up—Suarez, Barnhart. LIDP—Garcia. FIDP—Inciarte. GIDP—Inciarte, Bruce 2.

DP—Atlanta 2 (Freeman, Aybar), (Freeman, Aybar); Cincinnati 3 (Votto), (Phillips, Cozart, Votto), (Hamilton, De Jesus).

 

Atlanta IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA

Jenkins 6 4 2 2 4 2 107 4.05

Alvarez H, 1 1 2-3 1 0 0 0 2 27 2.08

Withrow H, 7 1-3 1 0 0 0 0 4 3.33

Johnson BS, 3-5 2-3 4 2 2 0 0 12 4.59

Cervenka 2-3 1 0 0 0 0 5 2.93

M.Cabrera W, 1-0 1 2-3 1 0 0 0 2 25 1.80

 

Cincinnati IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA

Reed 6 5 2 0 2 5 94 6.75

Lorenzen 1 1 2 2 1 1 17 4.26

Diaz 2 1 0 0 0 1 18 4.24

Cingrani L, 2-3 1 2 1 1 0 1 15 3.43

Wood 1 1 0 0 0 0 10 2.98

Cingrani pitched to 1 batter in the 11th.

Inherited runners-scored—Cervenka 1-0, M.Cabrera 1-0, Wood 1-1. HBP—Jenkins (Duvall).

Umpires—Home, Lance Barksdale; First, Angel Hernandez; Second, Will Little; Third, Ted Barrett.

T—3:38. A—23,080 (42,319).