CINCINNATI _ The Braves need another consistent pitcher to go along with left-hander Jaime Garcia. Even better for them if Mike Foltynewicz can fill that role because, unlike the older veterans in the rotation, Foltynewicz can be part of the team's future.
Foltynewicz took another step by dominating the Reds on Friday with his best start of the year. He struck out 10 batters over seven innings and allowed no runs and two hits, both singles, with two walks.
The bullpen couldn't back him up, though. The Reds tied the game by scoring two runs against closer Jim Johnson in the ninth and won 3-2 on Devin Mesoraco's walk-off homer against Jose Ramirez in the 10th.
Braves reliever Arodys Vizcaino preserved a 2-0 lead by stranding two base runners in the eighth inning. Reds outfielder Adam Duvall led off the bottom of the ninth with a double to start the comeback.
Eugenio Suarez followed with another double that scored Duvall. After Johnson struck out Scott Schebler, Jose Peraza's ground out moved Suarez to third. Suarez scored when Johnson's pitch in the dirt got past catcher Tyler Flower, who had tried to backhand it with his glove.
Braves outfielder Nick Markakis led off the 10th with a drive against the left-field wall but stopped at first when Duvall quickly corralled it. Matt Kemp grounded into a double play and Flowers struck out to end the inning.
The Braves got a sacrifice fly from Ender Inciarte in the third inning against the Reds and a lead-off homer from Dansby Swanson in the fifth. The Braves squandered other chances against right-hander Bronson Arroyo, including an out at home on a base-running mistake by Kemp, but didn't seem to need much scoring with Foltynewicz in control.
Foltynewicz, 25, rebounded after giving up five earned runs over four innings against the Giants in his previous start. That ended a streak of three consecutive outings with no more than three earned runs allowed and at least five innings pitched.
Foltynewicz overpowered the Reds with his fastball and kept them off balance with his slider. When Reds hitters managed to get on base against Foltynewicz, he struck them out or induced weak fly balls and harmless grounders.
Foltynewicz walked Duvall to begin the second inning before getting Suarez to pop out and striking out Schebler and Peraza. After Tucker Barnhart singled to lead off the third inning and went to second on a sacrifice, Foltynewicz struck out Billy Hamilton and Zack Cozart grounded out to shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Reds first baseman Joey Votto walked to lead off the fourth and ended up staying at first: Foltynewicz struck out Duvall and Schebler with a Suarez fly out in between. Foltynewicz struck out the first two batters of the fifth inning, Peraza and Barnhart, and then got Hamilton to ground out to first base after Arroyo singled.
Foltynewicz retired the Reds in order in the sixth inning, including two strikeouts, and his pitch count was at about 100. Manager Brian Snitker let Foltynewicz hit with one out in the top of the seventh and Foltynewicz again retired the Reds in order in the bottom of the inning.
