Will Benson laced the tiebreaking RBI triple in the ninth inning and scored the winning run on an error two batters later for the host Cincinnati Reds, who edged the Colorado Rockies 4-3 in the middle game of a three-game series.
Austin Hays lofted a first-inning sacrifice fly before Noelvi Marte homered in the seventh to begin a comeback from a 3-1 deficit for the Reds (49-47), whose win ensured they’d reach the All-Star Break with a winning record while remaining the only team in the majors to not be swept in a series this season.
Cincinnati’s 31 straight series without being swept is one shy of the team record to start a season, set by the 1970 team.
Ryan Ritter hit a two-run homer while Yanquiel Fernandez had an RBI double for the Rockies, who were three outs away from clinching just their third series win of the season.
The Rockies have dropped eight of 11 this month to fall to 22-73, which has them on pace to finish with 124 losses, the most in the modern era and three more than last season’s Chicago White Sox.
Emilio Pagan (2-2) wriggled out of a first-and-third, none-out jam in the ninth before the Reds needed just 10 pitches to complete their comeback against Victor Vodnik (3-3).
Spencer Steer singled on Vodnik’s first pitch before Benson tripled on the right-hander’s next offering. Vodnik walked pinch-hitter Jake Fraley, after which Marte hit a hard one-hopper to second baseman Orlando Arcia, who was drawn in for a potential play at the plate.
But Arcia bobbled the ball and didn’t throw home as Benson slid in for the winning run.
Elly De La Cruz had two hits and a stolen base for the Reds while Matt McLain, Austin Hays and Gavin Lux all finished with two hits apiece.
Fernandez was 3-for-4.
The Reds’ rally saved Brady Singer from suffering a hard-luck loss while costing Bradley Blalock a chance at his first big league win.
Singer gave up the three runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings. Blalock allowed one run on six hits and no walks while striking out one over 5 2/3 innings.
