Reds had their chances in Game 5 defeat

If Mat Latos reaction didnt tell the story, Ryan Hanigans certainly did.
With one out in the fifth inning, Latos let fly on a 94 mile-per-hour cutter. The instant the ball met Buster Poseys bat, Latos hung his head and walked off the mound, as if the Reds pitcher was about to head straight to his post-game shower. Hanigan, the Cincinnati catcher who had the best view of Poseys grand slam, immediately dipped his right shoulder, slung his head, and turned his back on the play.
Neither Latos nor Hanigan needed to watch the ball sail way over the left-field wall. They both knew the result of the play. And at that point, maybe even the game too.
This was a Giants afternoon. But despite losing 6-4 in the decisive game, the Reds certainly had their chances.
In all, Latos surrendered six runsall in the fifth inningin his first career playoff start. The 24-year-old righthander had pitched well during the regular season (14-4, 3.48 ERA) and in relief in the series opener (1 run in 4 innings). But Thursday was simply not his day.
The Reds fell behind 6-0 following Latos disastrous fifth inning, but they did not throw in the towel.
Brandon Phillips drove in a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, while Ryan Ludwicks solo shot in the following frame made things even more interesting. Cincinnati then brought the tying run to the plate in sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings. But each time, the San Francisco bullpen had the answer.
This loss has to sting for the Reds, who still have not won a postseason series since 1995.Worse yet, they became the first team in NLDS history to blow a 2-0 series lead and the first team in MLB history to lead a five-game series 2-0 before losing the last three at home.
(More coming...)