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 The Reds broke a three-game losing streak and won for just the
second time in seven games as Cueto (15-6) limited the Rockies to
two runs and six hits in eight innings and became the first 15-game
winner in the majors. He made his 17th start after a Reds loss, and
in those games, Cueto is 10-3 with four no-decisions.
"You go all in with Johnny, and you don't fear losing a game late,
because when he's in there, he's the best guy to be out on the
field," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He's so competitive. He
doesn't give in. He sees areas where the hitters are vulnerable, and
he makes big pitches. And he just has no fear of the competition."
Cueto made two huge pitches in the seventh after left fielder Corey
Dickerson tied the game at 2 with a double and catcher Wilin Rosario
was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out.
Cueto struck out shortstop Charlie Culberson and second baseman DJ
LeMahieu on high 95 mph fastballs. Both players swung and missed,
and LeMahieu slammed his bat to the ground in disgust after his
futile swing.
 "I was thinking about a ground-ball double play, but things went
different and thank God I was able to strike out the other two
guys," Cueto said through a translator. "It was an outside fastball
that I wanted them to go up (for), and they did that." Cueto, whose ERA is 2.06 in a major league leading 187 2/3 innings,
set a career high with his seventh straight win and matched his
career high by winning his fifth straight start.
Second baseman Negron, a 28-year-old rookie who was recalled from
Triple-A Lousville on July 10 after second baseman Brandon Phillips
was injured, went 4-for-4, the first four-hit game of his career.
His parents and grandmother flew in Friday from Vacaville, Calif.,
to see him play in the majors for the first time this season.
Negron's game-winning hit came against Adam Ottavino (0-4), the
sixth Rockies pitcher. Their bullpen admirably pieced together nine
innings when scheduled starter Franklin Morales missed the game
because his wife went into labor.
"'Otto' has been deadly against righties," Rockies manager Walt
Weiss said. "We got in a good situation but the kid got a big hit
for him. I'll take Otto in that situation every time against a
right-handed bat."
Ottavino gave up a leadoff single in the ninth inning to third
baseman Ramon Santiago, who was sacrificed to second. Ottavino
walked Skip Schumaker, who pinch-hit for Cueto, and got center
fielder Billy Hamilton to pop out, but Negron, making his 15th
career start, lined a single past Ottavino.
"I've had a couple opportunities to come up with a hit at the end of
a game," Negron said, "and it felt good to finally get one through.
The other day I had a big chance, and I hit it back up the middle
against Boston and it got caught."
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Aroldis Chapman's 49-game strikeout streak, the longest in major
league history by a reliever since 1900, ended, but he picked up his
26th save. He issued a one-out walk, but catcher Branyan Pena, who
moved to first base in the eighth, managed to catch pinch hitter
Michael McKenry's line drive that staggered him and stepped on first
base to complete a game-ending double play. "I've never seen a line drive coming at me that hard, even when
I'm behind home plate," Pena said. "Just to end the game, it was
pretty exciting. I'm still in shock I caught the baseball."
Cueto gave up a run in the second when third baseman Nolan Arenado
led off with his 12th home run. The Reds tied the game in third when
Cueto and center fielder Billy Hamilton began the inning with
singles and after Negron's sacrifice, Cueto scored on a ground out.
That run came against Matt Belisle, who made his first start since
May 25, 2008, when he was with the Reds. Belisle was working on a
limit of about 45 pitches. Weiss was hoping to get three innings
from Belisle, who went that distance on 49 pitches, 37 strikes.
The Reds made it 2-1 in the fourth against Nick Masset on third
baseman Ramon Santiago's single, following a leadoff double by first
baseman Jack Hanahan.
"Really proud of the guys the way they stepped up tonight," Rockies
manager Walt Weiss said. "We were in a really tough spot. The
bullpen did a (heck) of a job giving us a chance to win against a Cy
Young caliber guy."
NOTES: The Reds announced that RHP Dylan Axelrod will start Saturday
in place of RHP Homer Bailey (strained right flexor mass tendon).
Necessary roster moves will be made Saturday. ... Reds 1B Todd
Frazier didn't play because of stiffness in his lower right back
that he felt while swinging in his second at-bat Thursday. ... Reds
RHP Logan Ondrusek (strained right shoulder) threw 14 pitches in one
scoreless inning on a rehab assignment Friday for Triple-A
Louisville and could rejoin the Reds in the next day or two. ...
Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki underwent season-ending surgery in Vail,
Colo., to have his torn left hip labrum repaired. ... RF Michael
Cuddyer (fractured left shoulder socket), who completed an
eight-game rehab assignment Thursday, will be activated Saturday and
play for the Rockies for the first time since he was injured June 5.
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