Reds beat Diamondbacks in extra innings on balk

PHOENIX — The Cincinnati Reds beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in a bizarre game Saturday night in Phoenix.

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T.J. Friedl scored the game-winning run after a two-out, two-strike balk as the Reds beat the Diamondbacks, 8-7.

He scored on Nabil Crismatt’s balk and Lucas Sims got the final three outs for his third save of the season.

Cincinnati trailed 4-2 in the ninth inning but Tyler Stephenson’s RBI double off Diamondbacks closer Paul Seward cut it to 4-3. He scored on an RBI groundout by Matt McClain to tie it a 4-4

The game went into the tenth inning as the Reds scored three times. Spencer Street’s RBI double drove in Elly De La Cruz to put them ahead, 5-4. Nick Martini added a ground-rule double and Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s RBI single extended it to 7-4.

Arizona scored three times in their half of the tenth to tie the game. Geraldo Perdomo’s RBI single cut it to 7-5. Corbin Carroll followed with a walk and Tommy Pham hit what appeared a routine ground ball but McClain misplayed for an error and Perdomo scored. Christian Walker’s sacrifice fly tied the game at 7-7.

The Reds had runners at first and third with two outs in the 11th. Crismatt flinched on an 0-2 count and second-base umpire C.B. Bucknor called a balk allowing Friedl to score.

Sims retired three straight Arizona hitters to finish the game.

Cincinnati will play at Arizona later this afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

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