Willingham's homer lifts Twins over Reds
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Josh Willingham crushed a go-ahead two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning to lift the Twins to a 4-3 triumph over the Reds in the rubber match of a three-game series Sunday at Great American Ball Park.
Joey Votto gave the Reds a 3-2 lead with a two-run blast in the bottom of the eighth, but Aroldis Chapman (4-4) was unable to hold the Twins down in the ninth.
Joe Mauer ripped a one-out double to set the table for Willingham, who belted a fastball deep into the left-field seats to give the Twins a one-run lead.
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"I was looking for something over the middle and hard and he threw it over the middle and he threw it hard," remarked Willingham. "I wasn't trying to hit a home run. I was trying to stay short and I caught one just perfect and got it up in the air."
Jared Burton, who pitched for the Reds from 2007-11, retired Cincinnati in the ninth to record the first save of his career. Scott Diamond (6-3) got the win in the longest outing of his career after tossing eight innings and giving up three runs on eight hits with a career-high seven strikeouts.
Wilson Valdez finished with two hits, including an RBI single, but the Reds lost for the fifth time in their last six games.
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"It was a tough one to lose. It's a tough one for Chappy and us too," admitted Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker about Chapman. "He got behind a good hitter in Willingham and he's a dangerous man."
The Reds struck first in the bottom of the third as Devin Mesoraco scorched a leadoff double, moved to third on a bunt and finally crossed the plate on a two-out single to right from Valdez.
Minnesota tied the game with one swing of the bat in the fifth when Trevor Plouffe crushed a first-pitch sinker into the seats in right-center field.
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After the Reds had a run cut down at the plate in the bottom of the sixth, Minnesota broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh.
Mauer led off the frame with a single and Willingham followed with a double down the left-field line. Mauer then scored on an RBI groundout from Justin Morneau to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Plouffe then slapped a grounder up the middle, but Brandon Phillips made a diving stop and fired home to catch Willingham at the plate and keep it a one- run contest.
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Phillips' play loomed large, as Votto followed an inning later with a go-ahead two-run shot to left, but Chapman's second straight blown save in the ninth allowed the Twins to escape with the victory.
Game Notes
Minnesota wrapped up a six-game road trip at 3-3 and finished interleague play at 9-9...The Reds ended interleague play with a 7-8 record...The Reds have lost their last five one-run games...There has been at least one home run hit at Great American Ball Park in each of the last 62 games played there.