Sunday, May 18, 2008
Adam Dunn’s three-run homer sent the Indians down to a 4-2 defeat.
CINCINNATI (AP) — Adam Dunn has a knack for breaking Indians’ hearts.
Dunn’s three-run homer in the ninth inning off Masa Kobayashi powered the Cincinnati Reds to their season-high fifth straight victory Saturday, a 4-2 win that had a familiar feel for Cleveland’s relievers.
They’ve had this Dunn to them before.
The outfielder hit a game-ending grand slam off Bob Wickman for a 9-8 victory at Great American Ball Park on June 30, 2006, the most dramatic ending in the intrastate series. This one will be high on the list, too.
“I love it — I don’t know why — and especially with a packed house,” Dunn said. “It’s awesome.”
Dunn’s third homer in three games helped the Reds survive another shutdown pitching performance by Cleveland’s Fausto Carmona, who turned a 2-1 lead over to a bullpen in transition.
Kobayashi (2-1) got a chance to close games after Rafael Betancourt struggled earlier in the week, costing him the job he had been given until Joe Borowski returns from a sore arm.
Kobayashi, who saved more than 200 games in Japan, opened the ninth by giving up a single to Joey Votto and hitting Edwin Encarnacion on the left leg with a pitch.
Dunn was told to try to advance the runners with a bunt, but fouled it off. He then latched onto a belt-high fastball, driving it deep into the seats in right field for his ninth homer.
“He actually is one of the best bunters on the team, believe it or not,” manager Dusty Baker said. “We were trying to get the runners in scoring position, and he threw him a pitch he could hit.”
Dunn also drove in the winning run Friday night with a bases-loaded walk in the eighth inning of a 4-3 victory. Manager Eric Wedge had Betancourt warming in the bullpen on Saturday, but decided to let Kobayashi face Dunn with the game on the line.
“I wanted to throw a two-seamer [fastball], and I didn’t think it was down,” Kobayashi said through a translator. “I was trying to get it down. I was surprised he tried to bunt, but that didn’t change my plan.”
Bill Bray (1-0) pitched out of a scoring threat in the ninth to get the win in front of a crowd of 42,023, the first capacity crowd at the ballpark since opening day.
Until the bullpen meltdown, Carmona was in line for another impressive win. The right-hander allowed only Brandon Phillips’ RBI single and four hits in 71‚Ñ3 innings, a fitting follow-up to his last performance.