After waving silent bats for 8 innings, the Reds struck for two runs in the bottom of the 9th to tie the game. Then Devin Mesoraco, batting for the first time tonight, blasted a 99-mph fastball to left center for a walk-off homer. ‘Twas a good start for the home stand.
Before the late heroics, it looked like the Reds would be foiled by home plate umpire Mike Winters, who seemed determined to show how much he could disadvantage hitters with his strike zone tonight. For example, here’s a Zack Cozart AB where pitches #1, #4 and #6 were *called* strikes by Winters.