Reds use big seventh inning to win
CINCINNATI - With leadoff batter Shin-Soo Choo getting on base at an incredible rate and first baseman Joey Votto's bat heating up, the Cincinnati Reds' offense has found its stride.
Votto hit his third homer and Choo reached base five times, scoring twice, as the Reds rolled to a 10-6 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
The game was tied 2-2 before the Reds broke the game open with an eight-run seventh inning.
Choo was hit twice by pitches, tying a franchise record with nine hit-by-pitches in April.
"I'm just focused on every pitch and every at-bat right now," Choo said. "I don't want to lose a pitch. It hurts (to get hit). But I'm more happy to be on base."
Reds third baseman Todd Frazier drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double during a big seventh inning to spearhead the win.
Cincinnati (11-8) scored 10 runs or more for the fifth time this season.
Marlins catcher Miguel Olivo hit a three-run home run during a four-run, ninth-inning rally that fell short. Giancarlo Stanton recorded his first RBI with a single in the ninth.
Miami (4-15) went 4-for-12 with runners in scoring position Sunday and committed two errors, not including Chris Coghlan misjudging Votto's fly ball in the fateful seventh.
"We're not swinging the bats well enough to overcome these mistakes," said Miami manager Mike Redmond. "If we continue to give teams extra opportunities, we'll be in trouble."
Marlins' third baseman Chris Valaika had RBI singles in the second and sixth innings while starting catcher Rob Brantly went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored.
"Guys are still battling," said Redmond. "Guys are staying positive, even though we don't have a lot of wins."
Logan Ondrusek (1-0) struck out three batters in the seventh to earn the victory for the Reds.
Right-hander Alex Sanabia (2-2) started for Miami and lost for the first time on the road. He was 4-0 in 12 prior road appearances, including nine starts. Sanabia was charged with five earned runs and five walks in six innings.
Homer Bailey hadn't allowed a run in 18 of his 19 innings this season. He was charged with two earned runs allowed on seven hits in six innings Sunday.
Bailey walked a season-high three batters and struck out eight.
Coghlan doubled leading off the game. But he was left stranded at third base when Bailey struck out Stanton and Joe Mahoney for another missed opportunity by Miami.
In the Reds' first inning, Votto hammered Sanabia's first pitch 380 feet into the right-center field stands putting the Reds ahead 1-0. Votto homered in consecutive games for the first time since Sept. 10 and 11, 2011.
"The Reds pay me to be good," said Votto. "I'm not going to be concerned when I go through a little homerless drought. There are a lot of different ways to be good."
After the Miami tied in the second on Valaika's RBI single, the Reds regained the lead in the third on a Votto RBI single.
Valaika tied the game 2-2 with another RBI single in the top of the sixth before the Reds broke it open.
In the seventh, Choo walked and Xavier Paul singled to begin the inning. Votto's fly ball to left fell in front of Coghlan loading the bases.
Brandon Phillips singled off Jon Rauch driving home Choo. Paul also scored on the play when Stanton bobbled the ball in right field for an error, making the score 4-2.
After Devin Mesoraco drove in the fifth run, Frazier missed a grand slam by inches when he doubled high off the right-field wall, clearing the bases to put the Reds ahead 8-2.
"I knew I hit it hard enough to get over his head," said Frazier. "It felt good."
Rauch was charged with five earned runs in two-thirds of an inning.
"Rauch was our only fresh arm," said Redmond. "We put him into a tough spot. It just didn't work out."
NOTES: Reds' catcher Ryan Hanigan was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a strained left oblique and catcher Corky Miller's contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville. To make room for Miller, RHP Nick Masset (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day DL. ... Reds' shortstop Zack Cozart was out of the lineup Sunday after being struck on the right hand by a Steve Cishek pitch while attempting a bunt in the 13th inning Saturday. X-rays were negative. He is day-to-day. ... Marlins' outfielder Juan Pierre was given a day off Sunday after going 0-for-6 Saturday while striking out three times.