He has not been much of a factor on the field. On Wednesday night in Great American Ball Park, he couldn’t help the Reds overcome the Milwaukee Brewers, but he did save them the embarrassment of being the victims of a perfect game by former Reds pitcher Kyle Lohse.
The Brewers are the third-toughest team to walk in the National League, but Reds pitchers walked 10 free-swinging Brewers (three scored) and the Reds lost, 5-0.
Hannahan was the only Cincinnati batsman to reach base. He singled in the third and blooped a broken-bat single to center in the fifth, but nothing came from either hit.
Lohse finished the game, his 12th career complete game and fifth career shutout, giving up the two hits to Hannahan, walking none and striking out six.
Asked if he didn’t have a scouting report on Hannahan, Lohse laughed and said, “Yeah, right. That guy, man? He just hit two good pitches, so I tip my hat. I don’t go out there expecting to throw a two-hitter anyway, or no-hitter, or a perfect game. It’s just the way it worked out.”
Lohse’s shutout was the 17th time this year the Reds have been shut out and for the year they have put up more zeroes than the Japanese Air Force during World War II.
Reds starter Daniel Corcino was the worst offender at handing this one to the Brewers. In 4 1/3 innings he gave up two runs and four hits, and mixed four walks into the losing pudding.
It was only 2-0 going into the eighth, but relief pitcher Ryan Dennick walked the first two batters he faced and both scored on Jean Segura’s double to left field.
Billy Hamilton made another in his litany of video highlight catches and this time paid a price.
In the third inning Ryan Braun crushed one toward the wall in left-center, near the Reds bullpen. Hamilton, in full sprint, left his feet and snagged the would-be home run. But he smashed the right side of his face against the railing on top of the fence.
He stayed in the game for an inning, then left with a mild concussion.
After the game, he said he was still woozy and was headed home for bed rest and sleep.
“There is padding on the fence, but it’s still hard,” said Hamilton. “I was dizzy, couldn’t concentrate and the lights bothered me. (Trainer) Paul Lessard made a decision to take me out.”
Said manager Bryan Price, “He felt a little dizzy afterward and tried to fight through it, but Paul Lessard made a great decision and said he shouldn’t be out there so we took him out.”
“It didn’t feel good then and it doesn’t feel good right now, still hurts,” said Hamilton. “I just couldn’t concentrate. I tried to go out there and be a tough guy and I probably made it worse.”
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