ATLANTA — Help is coming for a Cincinnati pitching staff that gave up 25 runs to the weak-hitting Braves while splitting a four-game series.
Following Thursday’s 7-2 loss to Atlanta, the Reds announced one of their top prospects, left-hander Cody Reed, will be called up to start on Saturday at Houston.
Reed isn’t coming for just one start.
“He’ll be a member of our rotation,” manager Bryan Price said.
Reed is 6-3 with a 3.20 ERA at Triple-A Louisville.
“He’s a piece to our future we feel very confident is going to impact our club in a very positive way,” Price said.
The Reds acquired Reed and two more current starters, Brandon Finnegan and John Lamb, in last year’s trade that sent Johnny Cueto to Kansas City.
Cincinnati’s staff needed a long start following Wednesday night’s 9-8 loss to Atlanta in 13 innings, but right-hander Dan Straily (4-3) allowed a season-high six runs on seven hits and three walks in only 4 1/3 innings.
“I just didn’t have it today, that’s what really got me in trouble,” Straily said. “I don’t think I really commanded any of my pitches very well and I just wasn’t able to execute. It just kind of got away from me there.”
Adam Duvall hit his 19th homer and Joey Votto had three hits for the Reds.
Freddie Freeman had three hits, including a two-run homer off Straily, one day after he became the first player this season to hit for the cycle.
Freeman was 10 for 18 with three homers and six RBIs in the series.
The Braves won back-to-back home games for only the second time this season, improving their still-dismal home record to 9-27. They won two straight at Turner Field against Miami on May 27-28.
Matt Wisler (3-7) allowed two runs on eight hits and two walks in 6 2/3 innings. Ian Krol threw two scoreless innings before closer Arodys Vizcaino recorded the final out.
The Braves led only 3-2 before scoring three runs in the fifth. A double-steal by Smith and Ender Inciarte set up a two-run double to right field by Nick Markakis.
Diaz recalled
Reds right-hander Dayan Diaz, recalled from Louisville before the game, allowed one unearned run on two hits in 2 2/3 innings.
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