Boros Gamble in the 11th Backfires, 7-4 : After Walk to Parker, Bell Homer Gives Reds Win Over Padres

Soon after Buddy Bell hit a three-run home run in the 11th inning to give the Cincinnati Reds a 7-4 victory over the Padres, Manager Steve Boros knew he wasn’t going to have an easy time sleeping.

Boros decided to walk Dave Parker with one on and two outs in the inning and take his chances with Bell.

Bell promptly hit his 19th homer of the year, the most in his career, on a 3-0 pitch from Lance McCullers.

“I’d just seen Parker beat us too many times,” Boros said. “Bell made the strategy look bad by hitting the ball into the seats.

“If I’m going to sleep tonight, I had to walk Parker. I’m still probably not going to sleep too well.”

The Padres rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Reds starter Tom Browning pitched eight innings, giving up four runs--two earned--while striking out eight and not surrending a walk.

Jerry Royster opened the ninth with a double to center field. Tony Gwynn reached on an error by shortstop Kurt Stillwell and Royster moved to third.

McReynolds singled to left, scoring Royster. Carmelo Martinez followed with a two-run double to center for his first hit of the night, after striking out twice in his first three at-bats.

Red reliever John Franco entered the game after Martinez’s double cut the lead to 4-3. The left-hander walked the first batter, Benito Santiago, then struck out pinch-hitter Garry Templeton and Randy Asadoor.

But pinch-hitting John Kruk grounded a single to left, scoring Martinez to tie the game.

With two out, Santiago at second and Kruk at first, Steve Garvey struck out on an “excuse me” swing to end the inning.

Eddie Milner hit the first of his two home runs, a line-drive shot over the 327-foot sign in right field to give the Reds a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning.

The Reds scrambled for a run in the fifth. Buddy Bell and Bo Diaz walked to open the inning. Milner reached first on a fielder’s choice with Diaz thrown out at second and Bell moving top third.

Milner then stole second as Tony Perez struck out and Bell slid under Santiago’s tag after the catcher’s throw to second went into short center field for an error.

Milner gave the Reds a 4-0 lead in the seventh with a two-run, line-drive home run just inside the foul pole in right field.

Diaz had singled to left with one out to set up Milner’s home run.