Votto leads Reds over Diamondbacks in 10 innings

Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto gets a base hit off Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Clay Zavada with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run in the 10th inning of a baseball game, Thursday, July 2, 2009, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 3-2.

AP Photo/Al Behrman Cincinnati Reds' Joey Votto gets a base hit off Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Clay Zavada with the bases loaded to drive in the winning run in the 10th inning of a baseball game, Thursday, July 2, 2009, in Cincinnati. Cincinnati won 3-2.

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Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero (26) looks to first after stepping on home to force out Cincinnati Reds' Ryan Hanigan in the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, July 2, 2009, in Cincinnati. Willy Taveras was safe at first after grounding to third with the bases loaded. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

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Cincinnati Reds starter Aaron Harang pitches against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, July 2, 2009, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

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By JOE KAY, The Associated Press Updated 5:36 PM Thursday, July 2, 2009

CINCINNATI — Joey Votto singled with the bases loaded and two outs in the 10th inning, and the Cincinnati Reds ended an afternoon of wasted chances by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 on Thursday.

Cincinnati loaded the bases with none out against Clay Zavada (1-2), stringing together a walk and a pair of singles. After Laynce Nix struck out and Jerry Hairston Jr. flied out to shallow right field, Votto singled past shortstop Augie Ojeda for his fourth hit of the game.

Francisco Cordero (1-2) escaped a bases-loaded threat in the 10th with the help of a double play. Justin Upton hit a routine fly to right fielder Jay Bruce, whose throw home beat the tagging Alex Romero for the third out. Bruce then had a bunt single during the Reds' winning rally.

Arizona lost for the 10th time in 12 games, falling a season-high 17 games under .500. The Diamondbacks have repeatedly wasted good pitching during the slump, done in by bad defense and a low-scoring offense.

The Diamondbacks were in position to get a victory for tough-luck starter Doug Davis, who gave up one run through seven innings. Reliever Chad Qualls let a 2-1 lead get away in the ninth when Drew Sutton grounded into a forceout that produced the tying run in his first big-league plate appearance.

Cincinnati repeatedly wasted chances against Davis, loading the bases twice but failing to score. The Reds finally got it right in the 10th.

It was another case of the Diamondbacks wasting a solid performance by a starting pitcher. Davis is 0-2 with three no-decisions in his last five starts, which is no reflection on his performance. He'd given up only five earned runs in his last four games.

Aaron Harang knows the feeling.

Harang hasn't won since May 25, going 0-4 with three no-decisions. He gave up two runs in seven innings, including Mark Reynolds' solo homer that made it 2-1 in the sixth.

Cincinnati's offense goes into a shell whenever Harang faces the Diamondbacks. The right-hander is 2-4 in his career against Arizona despite a 1.75 ERA.

NOTES: The slumping Bruce was out of Cincinnati's starting lineup, but went into right field as part of a double switch in the eighth. He fouled out with two runners aboard in the bottom of the inning. ... Since he returned from a stint on the DL for anxiety related problems, Votto has gone 15 for 38 with three doubles. ... Reds C Ryan Hanigan also had three hits, a career high.

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July 02, 2009 09:07 PM EDT

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The Reds absolutely struggled to take this series from the woeful last place D'backs. Why is that? Shoulda been a slam dunk. The talent pool is shallow and the pitching is getting old and worn out. But primarily it is because ownership lies and doesn't really REALLY care about the fans or about winning. they'll scrape by with a ho hum team because the fans have come to accept it.

BrarHopper
11:01 PM, 7/2/2009

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