Rockies 12, Reds 4
CINCINNATI -- The Colorado Rockies hit six home runs, including three by left fielder Carlos Gonzalez and two by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, highlighting a 20-hit outburst in a 12-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park.
Todd Helton added a solo home run in the seventh. Tulowitzki and Gonzalez hit back-to-back homers in the eighth. Tulowitzki tied a career-high with five hits. Gonzalez went 3-for-5 with six RBIs and homered three times for the second time in his career.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado had a career-high four hits.
After a rocky first inning, Rockies starter Jon Garland (4-6) was dominant, retiring 16 of the final 17 batters to earn the victory.
Reds left-fielder Xavier Paul hit a three-run home run off Garland in the first to put Cincinnati ahead 4-1. But Jack Hannahan, who doubled in the fourth, was the only baserunner Garland allowed over the next five innings.
Colorado came out swinging against Reds right-hander Pedro Villarreal, who made his first career start after being recalled from Triple-A when Johnny Cueto was placed on the 15-day disabled list prior to Wednesday's game.
Villarreal (0-1) allowed six runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings, including three home runs in his second major league appearance.
Gonzalez's solo home run put the Rockies ahead 1-0 in the first. In the fourth, Gonzalez launched a three-run homer 476 feet to right-center, giving Colorado a 6-4 lead.
Following an RBI single by Todd Frazier, Paul launched a 3-2 pitch from Garland into the right-field seats for a three-run homer, giving Cincinnati a 4-1 lead.
NOTES: Cueto was placed on the 15-day disabled list for the second time this season on Wednesday with a strained muscle in his right shoulder, and Villarreal was recalled from Triple-A Louisville. Cueto said he felt soreness in the eighth inning Friday at Pittsburgh and expects to miss just one, or possibly two starts. "It's the same thing he had before," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "He doesn't have to go back to square one like he did the last time." Cueto was 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in four starts since coming off the DL on May 20. ... An MRI conducted Tuesday on Rockies RHP Tyler Chatwood showed minor inflammation in his right triceps and he is expected to miss one start. Chatwood left Monday's game after four innings with right triceps soreness. He will sit out his scheduled bullpen sessions on Wednesday and Friday. ... Rockies CF Dexter Fowler did not start Wednesday's game due to illness. ... Gonzalez's fourth-inning homer was the 11th longest in Great American Ball Park history.
