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 On Tuesday night, the Cincinnati Reds first baseman took some
liberties with his swing and the result was a performance of
historic proportions.
Votto homered three times on three pitches, shortstop Zack Cozart
hit a three-run bomb and third baseman Todd Frazier added a solo
shot, lifting Cincinnati to an 11-2 victory over the Philadelphia
Phillies at Great American Ball Park.
"I just happened to get lucky on three pitches," said Votto. "A few
of them were out of the zone, that's not typical. You're going to
fail a lot if you swing at balls out of the zone."
Votto, who now has 13 homers this season, homered on Aaron Harang's
first pitch leading off the third inning and again off the former
Red with one out in the fifth.
"The first pitch was a change-up down and away," Harang said. "The
second one was a sinker down and away. That second one was more
ridiculous than the first -- below the knees and he hit it well."
In the seventh, Votto homered on the first offering from
right-hander Dustin McGowan to join Hall of Fame catcher Johnny
Bench as the only Reds players to hit three homers in a game three
times in their career.
"It's humbling to put my name alongside (Bench), for any reason,"
Votto said. "It's special."
Votto batted in the ninth attempting to become the 15th player since
1900 to belt four homers in a game, but he grounded to second on the
first pitch from Jeanmar Gomez.
"The pitch from Gomez was out of the zone, and that was a more
typical result," Votto said.
Cincinnati (26-31) hit four homers off Harang, providing sufficient
run support for right-hander Anthony DeSclafani, who defeated the
Phillies for the second time in a week.
DeSclafani (5-4) allowed two runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings with a
walk and seven strikeouts, using his slider effectively throughout
Tuesday's outing.
"I made some adjustments in the bullpen; I liked the swings I was
getting off it," DeSclafani said. "I kept the foot on the gas. You
have to do that at this level, whether you're up 10 or whatever."
One day after they defeated left-hander Cole Hamels for the first
time in his career, the Reds jumped all over Harang, who pitched for
eight seasons in Cincinnati.
Harang (4-7) allowed seven runs and seven hits and center fielder
Odubel lHerrera went 3-for-4 with a sacrifice fly for Philadelphia
(22-38).
Following a pair of walks, including a walk to Votto, to begin the
first inning, Harang allowed an RBI double by right fielder Jay
Bruce.
On the next pitch, Cozart belted a three-run homer, his ninth this
season, to make the score 4-0.
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"Votto set the table with his walk in the first inning," said Reds
manager Bryan Price. "He had a great night."
Prior to two outings this month against the Reds, Harang had given
up more than two earned runs just twice in 11 starts.
But Cincinnati continued to pound him in the third.
Votto hammered Harang's first pitch out to center, putting
Cincinnati ahead 5-1. It was Votto's 11th homer this season.
Frazier followed with his 17th homer, a line drive reaching the
concourse in left to make the score 6-1.
On the very next pitch he saw in the fifth, Votto homered again,
this time to left-center, giving Cincinnati a six-run advantage.
"We got off to a rough start in this one," Phillies manager Ryne
Sandberg said. "We got out-homered 5-0. We had a whole bunch of
singles and a double in a hitters' ballpark."
NOTES: Reds 2B Brandon Phillips left Tuesday's game in the third
inning with a strained left groin. Phillips slid awkwardly with his
left foot into third base in the first inning. ... Reds RF Jay Bruce
was ejected in the third inning for arguing a called-third strike
from the dugout. ... Reds CF Billy Hamilton was out of the lineup
Tuesday with a sore left wrist. Brennan Boesch started in CF. ...
Ivan De Jesus Jr. made his second straight start in LF for
Cincinnati, after making his first career start in LF on Monday. ...
Phillies RHP Chad Billingsley, who began the season on the disabled
list following right elbow surgery, planned to throw a bullpen
session on Tuesday. If all goes well, Billingsley will throw again
in a couple days, then possibly be sent out on a rehab assignment.
He hasn't pitched since 2013. ... Phillies LHP Cole Hamels was 12-0
in his previous 18 starts when given at least three runs of support
before Monday night's 6-4 loss at Cincinnati.
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