Reds Fall in Home Run Heavy Game vs Braves

Braves second baseman Dan Uggla

The Braves and the Reds combined for seven homers at Great American Ballpark on Friday. This game was the opener of a three game series vs the two, which will culminate with the final game of the series being played on Sunday Night Baseball. Bronson Arroyo and Braves ace Jair Jurrjens took the mound but today's stars came from behind.

Zack Cozart started off the scoring with a solo blast to left in the first, his third of his young career. Atlanta then scored three straight thanks to Jason Hayward and Brian McCann homers and a Alex Gonzalez RBI, the only non home run score of the night. Drew Stubbs and Fred Lewis then went deep in the 6th, Stubbs a solo shot and Lewis a two run homer, to help the Reds take back the lead. Martin Prado then tied up the scoring and hot hitting Dan Uggla came on as a pinch hitter in the ninth to blast a two run shot 415 feet and out of the ball park for the Braves 6-4 win.

The Braves try to keep pace with the Phillies in the NL East and maintain the Wild Card lead while the Reds fall back another game to the Pirates, Brewers and Cardinals in the NL Central race. They will face each other tomorrow at 4:10 on Fox for the second game of the series with pitchers Derek Lowe and Homer Bailey on the mound.