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  • The Juice: Brandon Phillips flip sets up Todd Frazier walkoff for Reds

    The Juice is back for its fifth season of fun! Stop by each weekday for an ample serving of news from the action, plus great photos, stats and video highlights.

    Flipping out: Little Leaguers, please: Do not try this at home. It will go in the books as a 4-6 force out, but that's only because they don't put pictures on scorecards. With the go-ahead run on second base in the seventh inning, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips needed to keep Michael Bourn's sharp grounder in the infield and get an out somewhere — if possible. Phillips dived to his right, knocked the ball down and kept it close enough that he was able to flip it with his bare hand — while contorting his body — to teammate Zack Cozart just before pinch runner Tim Hudson could slide into the second base bag. Phillips never had a grip on the ball, but he was in control in his own way.

    Two innings later... : In the bottom of the ninth, Todd Frazier made everyone flip out in a different way, ending what began as a pitcher's duel between Bronson Arroyo and Atlanta's Tommy Hanson with an oppo taco against Cristhian Martinez for a 2-1 victory and a 3-0 series lead sweep at Great American Ball Park. Frazier didn't get all of it, but you don't always have to in that stadium. From the Associated Press:

    This one barely cleared the wall in right field, landing in the first row of seats an estimated 355 feet away.

    ''I knew when I hit it that I got a lot of it,'' Frazier said. ''I was hoping it was enough. It just got over. Fine with me.''

    The teams combined for 11 home runs in the three-game set. Cincy's won five straight.

    Cole Hamels, stopper: Round two of Cole Hamels vs. Bryce Harper yielded no intentionally hit batters. It was pretty one-sided, though, with Hamels pitching eight shutout innings in a 4-1 victory for the Phillies, who stopped a four-game losing streak. Washington had won six straight in Philly.

    New chief in town?: The Cleveland Indians aren't going away, are they? Jason Kipnis scraped his arm and drew blood on home plate sliding in for the go-ahead run (with the help of a throwing error by Prince Fielder) in a 4-2 victory against the Detroit Tigers. It also guaranteed Cleveland a series victory against the defending AL Central champs, who won the final 10 meetings between the two a season ago.

    * * *

    Quote of the Day: ''When you give it up, you can't keep giving it up or it's going to be a long night." — Cardinals right-hander Lance Lynn after allowing three runs in the first inning, before rebounding with five scoreless innings in a 6-3 victory against the Padres.

    * * *

    Photo of the Day: Barry Zito takes a walk of shame and shadows.

    Jeez, Beezy, it's not so bad. The Giants' Zito allowed eight runs — four earned — along with five hits and four walks over three innings in an 8-5 loss at Milwaukee. OK, that's pretty bad.

    * * *

    Three Facts for the Water Cooler:

    The Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 11-4, averting what would have been the second sweep for L.A. at Chase Field in the park's 14-year history.

    • Alex Liddi of the Mariners became the second player born in Italy to hit a grand slam (salami, if you will) in a 5-3 victory against the Rangers. The first: Reno Bertoia, in 1958, for the Tigers. The next thing for Liddi: Get the ball to Tommy Lasorda for a blessing.

    • Alex Rodriguez snapped a 52 at-bat streak without a home run, hitting two for the Yankees in an 8-3 victory against the Royals.

    * * *

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  • Josh Hamilton makes great catch, destroys part of fence at Safeco Field

    Josh Hamilton, that's coming out of your game check! Be sure to replace your divot. Way to make a good impression. At least tell Alex Liddi that you're sorry for robbing him.

    It's a good thing Hambone ran into that particular part of the fence at Safeco Field, because it appears to be part of a gate, and would offer more give than one panel over in front of the bleachers. Hit the wrong part of the fence at that speed, and his teammates on the Texas Rangers might be putting up a chalk outline of his body for real.

    It was the second terrific catch by Hamilton against the Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night. He also robbed Casper Wells of extra bases with this grab — but did no harm to the Safeco fence that time. He could have, though, and it would have been OK because then he would have surpassed his insurance deductible.

    Love baseball? Even like it a little?
    Follow @AnswerDave, @bigleaguestew, @KevinKaduk on Twitter,
    along with the BLS Facebook page!

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