|
 The Reds hit four bases-empty home runs to help right-hander
Alfredo Simon to his career-high seventh victory of the season in a
4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.
Only four teams had fewer than the Reds' 42 homers entering the
game.
"It seems like whenever we do hit home runs, we win games," Reds
third baseman Todd Frazier said.
Frazier, shortstop Zack Cosart, left fielder Ryan Ludwick and right
fielder Chris Heisey had homers off Diamondbacks left-hander Wade
Miley (3-6), who has given up 14 homers, the second most in the
majors.
Heisey's homer leading off the fifth inning broke a 3-3 tie and
helped the Reds (26-29) to their third straight victory in the
series and fourth victory in their last five games.
"Got a nice little power supply with the four home runs there,"
Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. "You fight to win series and
get on a roll. We are heading in a right direction."
Ludwick and Cozart had two hits apiece, and setup man Jonathan
Broxton and closer Aroldis Chapman pitched scoreless innings behind
Simon (7-3). Chapman hit 103 mph on the stadium radar gun while
recording his seventh save in eight chances, and he and threw five
pitches clocked at over 100 in a 1-2-3 ninth.
Cozart opened the third inning with his second homer of the season,
and Frazier hit his 10th with two outs in the third for a 2-0 lead.
Ludwick hit his fourth homer with two outs in the fourth to make it
3-0.
"We've been talking about things, trying to understand to have fun
in this game while we play. Today was a great example," Frazier
said. "A little gusto. You have to show a little gusto. The energy
is there. The fun-ness is starting to come back, team-wise."
Catcher Miguel Montero had two hits and an RBI double for Arizona
(23-36), which lost for the fourth time in six games.
Diamondbacks rookie left fielder David Peralta collected two hits in
his first major-league game after his contract was purchased from
Double-A Mobile earlier in the day.
The Diamondbacks started five players from Venezuela, including
Montero and Peralta, and all had hits, a major-league first.
"It just wasn't meant to be today, and that's frustrating," Arizona
manager Kirk Gibson said. "At the end they just kind of shut us
down. Chapman comes in throwing 102, 103. It's pretty tough duty."
[to top of second column] |
Simon allowed seven hits and three runs in 6 1/3 innings. He struck
out four and walked one. The right-hander, who entered the rotation
in spring training while Mat Latos recovered from offseason
surgeries, has a 3.03 ERA in 11 starts. He earned six wins last
season when he was used in relief.
"I just tried to keep the ball down," Simon said. "I'm not
surprising myself. If I throw the ball down, everything is going to
be good."
Miley gave up four runs on eight hits in six innings while striking
out nine. He has 20 strikeouts in his past 13 innings after fanning
a career-high 11 against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.
"I felt great," Miley said. "I felt like I was getting ahead in
counts, moving the ball around. It was just those four pitches. I
don't know if you call it bad luck. I mean, make better pitches.
Maybe two inches more down and it's not a homer, who knows?"
NOTES: CF Billy Hamilton was a late scratch due to a sore right
elbow, the Reds announced. Skip Schumaker started in center field,
and RF Chris Heisey hit leadoff. ... Arizona CF A.J. Pollock is due
to undergo surgery in the next day or two for a fractured fourth
right metacarpal, manager Kirk Gibson said. Pollock is expected to
miss six to eight weeks. He was injured when he was struck as he
checked his swing on a pitch from Reds RHP Johnny Cueto in the
eighth inning Saturday. ... The Diamondbacks purchased the contract
of OF David Peralta from Double-A Mobile when Pollock was placed on
the disabled list and moved LHP Matt Reynolds from the 15-day to the
60-day disabled list. Peralta, 26, spent four years in the St. Louis
organization as a pitcher before converting to the outfield in 2010
after two shoulder surgeries. ... 1B Joey Votto (knee) is expected
to go on a rehab assignment before he rejoins the Reds, perhaps as
soon as this week, Reds manager Bryan Price said.
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
