Reds win another extra-inning game

Cincinnati Reds' Laynce Nix, left, is congratulated by Wladimir Balentien, right, after hitting a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009, in Milwaukee.

AP photo by Darren Hauck Cincinnati Reds' Laynce Nix, left, is congratulated by Wladimir Balentien, right, after hitting a home run against the Milwaukee Brewers in the second inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2009, in Milwaukee.

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By Hal McCoy, Staff Writer Updated 8:19 AM Thursday, August 27, 2009

MILWAUKEE — For the first four innings, Cincinnati Reds starter Kip Wells should have changed his first name to Harry and his last name to Houdini after the escapism he performed on the Miller Park pitching mound.

Wells, making only his third major-league start in two years, put runners on base in the first four innings and none scored. Milwaukee Brewers third base coach Brad Fischer would have directed more traffic around the Arctic Circle.

But four innings do not a baseball game make and when the winds of ineptitude cleared the Reds won in 10 innings, 4-3, thanks to absurd defensive play by the Brewers.

"Seemed like every inning was heavy traffic," said Wells. "Some of it was my doing and some of it was just base hits."

Wells then was hit for two home runs in the fifth and three runs and his two-run lead dissipated into a one-run deficit as he departed the premises, behind 3-2.

The Brewers, though, were generous. First, pitcher Claudio Vargas' throwing error permitted the Reds to tie it in the eighth and left fielder Ryan Braun misjudged Darnell McDonald's ball into a game-winning double in the 10th inning.

Braun clearly misjudged McDonald's ball, but as manager Dusty Baker pointed out, "That wasn't a fly ball, that was a line drive and there is a difference between a fly ball and a line drive.

"That ball was hit a ton and that's a tough read right there," he added. "It had some backspin on it and took off farther than Braun thought."

Wells led, 2-0, entering the fifth and gave up a one-out home run to Jody Gerut. With two outs he walked Braun to bring up Prince Fielder.

Baker traipsed to the mound but did not remove Wells. Before Baker could even turn around in the dugout, Fielder launched Wells's next pitch into the right field seats, his 34th homer and a 3-2 Brewers lead.

"I know it looks bad, first pitch after I talked to him," said Baker. "But I didn't tell him to throw it down the middle and see how far he could hit it. We all knew he was out of gas, but I told him to relax."

Said Wells, "I ran out of gas after about 80 pitches, the hitter before that, Ryan Braun. I was fatigued to the point I lost command of what I was doing. I'd lost some strength. I looked at the radar gun and I was down to the low and mid 80s on my fastball.

"Before I faced Fielder, Dusty came out and said, 'Just relax, take a deep breath and gather yourself,'" said Wells. "At that point I just tried to do what I could and at that point I said (about Fielder), 'You are going to get yourself out or you are going to get a hit. I wasn't in a position to work him like I did in previous at bats."

From there, though, a steady procession of bullpenners kept the Brewers quiet — Jared Burton, Nick Masset, Carlos Fisher, Daniel Ray Herrera and Francisco Cordero.

Laynce Nix put the Reds in control in the second inning with a home run, his third in two games. Paul Janish made it 2-0 in the fifth by bouncing a run-scoring single up the middle.

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