Murphy’s 2-run homer in 10th powers Braves past Reds, 5-4

By CHARLES ODUM – AP Sports Writer

ATLANTA (AP) — Sean Murphy hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Atlanta Braves recovered after blowing a two-run lead in the ninth to beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-4 on Monday night.

Murphy blasted the first pitch from Derek Law (0-2) to center field for his third hit of the game, driving in designated runner Austin Riley. Atlanta snapped a three-game skid.

Jonathan India opened the 10th inning for the Reds with a single to right field off Dylan Lee (1-0), driving in designated runner Jose Barrero from second base for a 4-3 lead.

Braves fill-in closer A.J. Minter blew a 3-1 lead in the ninth, wasting a strong start by rookie Bryce Elder.

Minter allowed three straight hits and two runs before recording an out. Wil Myers reached on a single before pinch-hitter Stuart Fairchild’s drive to left field was deflected by Kevin Pillar, who tried to make a leaping grab over the wall and knocked the ball back to the warning track. Myers scored as Fairchild raced to third.

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Spencer Steer’s bloop single drove in Fairchild to tie the game.

Murphy drove in the game’s first run with a double in the sixth inning.

Elder allowed six hits in 6 1/3 innings and left the game with a 1-0 lead. He had seven strikeouts and one walk.

Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft was pulled after he walked Orlando Arcia to open the seventh. Ashcraft allowed two runs on six hits and three walks.

Arcia moved to third on a two-out single by Ronald Acuña Jr., who had three hits, off Buck Farmer. Left-hander Reiver Sanmartin walked Matt Olson to load the bases before throwing a wild pitch that allowed Arcia to score with a head-first slide across the plate.

The Reds scored a run off right-hander Nick Anderson in the eighth. Jonathan India doubled and scored on Jake Fraley’s two-out single to right field.

Arcia had a single off Sanmartin in the eighth that drove in Ozzie Albies.

Reds: RHP Lucas Sims (back) threw a scoreless inning and RHP Luke Weaver (right elbow) threw four hitless innings in rehab assignments for Triple-A Louisville on Sunday. RHP Tony Santillan (lower back stress fracture) threw a scoreless inning for Louisville on Friday, and manager David Bell said he’d like to see Sims and Santillan make appearances on back-to-back days before they come off the injured list.

Braves: LHM Max Fried (hamstring) has no difficulty throwing off the mound but is still being watched closely on drills in fielding bunts and covering first base. … Iglesias (strained right shoulder) has thrown on the flat ground without difficulty but has yet to throw off a mound in his rehab.

The Braves are expected to activate RHP Kyle Wright, the majors’ only 20-game winner last season, from the 15-day injured list to make his season debut on Tuesday night against Reds RHP Luis Cessa (0-0, 3.38 ERA). Wright, 21-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 2022, was placed on the IL on March 27 with right shoulder inflammation.

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