Cincinnati Reds vs Kansas City Royals Match Player Stats On Jun 12, 2018

Tucker Barnhart hit a tying homer in the ninth to keep Cincinnati from being blanked. The win was just the third in the past nine games for the Reds.

Hunter Dozier homered and Ian Kennedy threw eight shutout innings for the Royals, who lost for the eighth time in their last nine games.

The contest was tied at 1 entering the 10th when Cincinnati loaded the bases against Royals right-hander Kevin McCarthy (4-3). Votto cleared them with a liner to the right-center field gap, and Eugenio Suarez contributed a run-scoring single later in the inning to make it 5-1.

Right-hander David Hernandez (2-0) struck out two in the ninth and left-hander Amir Garrett tossed a scoreless 10th inning.

Cincinnati was three outs away from losing before Barnhart led off the ninth with a homer off Royals right-hander Kelvin Herrera. Barnhart smacked a 2-2 pitch over the fence in right as Herrera blew his second save of the campaign.

The right-handed Kennedy was superb while allowing three hits, three walks and striking out five in eight innings. He was in line to win for the first time since April 7 prior to Herrera blowing the save opportunity.

After the homer, Votto and Jesse Winker drew walks in the inning before Herrera retired Adam Duvall on a grounder to get out of the jam.

Reds right-hander Sal Ramano gave up one run and four hits in eight innings. He struck out two and walked one.

Romano had a 10.72 ERA over his previous five starts.

Whit Merrifield had two of Kansas City's four hits.

Dozier fell behind 0-2 against Romano in his fifth-inning at-bat before the count reached full. He was ready for the ensuing 94 mph fastball and lined it over the fence in left-center field for his second career homer to give the Royals a 1-0 lead.

Cincinnati came up empty after having the bases loaded with one out in the second inning.

Jose Peraza lifted a high fly to shallow center and Scooter Gennett tagged up and scurried home. But Kansas City center fielder Abraham Almonte tossed a one-hop dart to the plate to retire Gennett and end the inning.

--Field Level Media