ESPN.com – MLB – Recap – Reds at Braves – 05/26/2003

Stupid Vinny. After the Reds led off the eleventh with a single, they graciously bunted to give the Braves an out. Instead of taking the sure out, Glove Boy tried force the issue at second. Fielder’s Choice, E-5, everyone’s safe, and three batters later, pinch-hitter Adam Dunn (Bobby walked the slumping Aaron Boone to load the bases with one out) hit a grand slam off of Boom-Boom Bobby Hernandez. The Braves scored three in the bottom of the inning but ran out of outs. I hate Vinny.

Before Boom-Boom’s negative heroics, the bullpen had done a superb job. Mike Hampton had allowed three runs in the first four innings but then threw two scoreless ones, then the pen did its thing well for four. However, the Braves were making John Riedling look like vintage Greg Maddux and couldn’t mount a threat. They rallied to tie it in eighth, then Bobby made a mistake by bringing Smoltz in but not double-switching, and only got one inning from his best reliever.

The Braves loaded the bases on walks with one out in the tenth, but Fick struck out swinging and Javy flew out. Javy was the only Braves regular to go hitless… The Braves left eleven runners on base and got another runner (Vinny, who else?) thrown out at home. Where did Fredi Gonzalez learn to coach third base?