Atlanta Braves blow a 4-run lead in a costly 6-5 loss to Cincinnati Reds

CINCINNATI (AP) — Michael Harris II and Matt Olson homered for Atlanta, but the Braves blew a four-run lead in a costly 6-5 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

Pierce Johnson and Jesse Chavez struggled as Atlanta dropped its third consecutive game. The Braves (81-70) fell two games back of the New York Mets (83-68) for the third NL wild card.

Harris hit a leadoff drive in the first against Brandon Williamson. Marcell Ozuna reached on a one-out single before Olson made it 3-0 with his 26th homer.

Jorge Soler's 19th homer made it 5-1 in the fourth. But that was it for Atlanta, which went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position and left 14 runners on base.

“We kind of shot ourselves in the foot a couple times,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “This is one of those places, too. You're never safe. You have to keep scoring. There were a couple plays that could have been executed better.”

Spencer Steer homered for Cincinnati, and Tyler Stephenson had two hits and drove in a run. The Reds (74-78) improved to 4-0 against the Braves this year.

Jake Fraley started Cincinnati's rally with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fourth. The Reds added two more runs in the sixth against Chavez.

Stephenson hit a leadoff single in the seventh and Steer hit a drive to left-center off Johnson (5-5), giving Cincinnati a 6-5 lead.

Steer has 20 homers and 25 steals. He joined Elly De La Cruz as the first teammates on the Reds with at least 20 homers and 20 steals in the same season since Barry Larkin and Eric Davis accomplished the feat in 1996.

“I try to show up every day and take good at bats to help this team win. That's why I showed so much emotion. I felt it was a big spot and I feel like I've not been the guy I needed to be for this team,” Steer said. “I hold myself to a high standard. This game is all about consistency and I haven't been as consistent as I'd like.”

Steer is still among the league leaders with 91 RBIs.

Atlanta right-hander Grant Holmes pitched four innings in his first start since Aug. 14. He was charged with two runs and five hits.

“Grant gave us everything we needed and more," Snitker said. “I thought Jesse threw the ball really well. It was just a couple of misplays.”

Williamson left the game in the second inning with a strained left elbow. He permitted three runs and three hits.

“It was one pitch that did it,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He had an MRI tonight but there is going to be a follow-up tomorrow in the afternoon.”

Brent Suter (1-0) got one out for the win, and Alexis Díaz handled the ninth for his 28th save in 32 tries.

Ozuna had two hits, raising his batting average to .303. But he hasn't hit a home run in his last 26 games. He hasn't driven in a run in his last 19.

“We've been struggling to score runs lately but I'd hate to see where we'd be without him,” Snitker said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Braves: INF Ozzie Albies started a rehab assignment in the minors. Snitker hopes to have him back for an upcoming series against Miami.

UP NEXT

Spencer Schwellenbach (6-7, 3.73 ERA) starts for Atlanta on Wednesday, and Jakob Junis (4-0, 2.73 ERA) goes for the Reds.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer, right, celebrates his home run against the Atlanta Braves with teammate TJ Friedl during the seventh inning of a baseball gam,e Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer hits a home run against the Atlanta Braves during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brandon Williamson, left, talks with catcher Tyler Stephenson and a trainer before being taken out of the game with an injury against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Fernando Cruz throws against the Atlanta Braves during the second inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Crux hits a double against the Atlanta Braves during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson makes a play at first base to get Cincinnati Reds' Noelvi Marte out during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Atlanta Braves' Matt Olson, right, celebrates his home run against the Cincinnati Reds with teammate Marcell Ozuna during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)