Jay Bruce is a good hitter, Reds beat Rangers 8-2

Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Jay Bruce has occupied this space several times over the past month, and tonight he kept the good times going. Bruce got the Reds offense rolling in the first with a three-run homer. In the sixth he added a single, and in the seventh he drove home Brandon Phillips with a double. The resurgence of Jay Bruce has been a welcome development in Cincinnati, and he's starting to look like the hitter that we all remember.

Honorable mentions are due: Anthony DeSclafani gave up five hits and two runs over seven innings; Zack Cozart went 2-4 with 3 RBI (including his 11th homer); Brandon Phillips went 2-4 and scored twice.

Key Plays

• The Reds got off to a fast start in this one. Zack Cozart led off the game with a walk. After Billy Hamilton flied out to center, Brandon Phillips slapped a single in to left. With two runners on, Jay Bruce smacked a 410 ft. three-run homer.
• The Rangers responded in the bottom of the second. Adrian Beltre led off the inning with a..."single." Jurickson Profar followed with a two-run homer.
• We need to pause here for a second because the Adrian Beltre "single" is one of the weirdest plays I've ever seen. Behold...EUGENIO!!!!

• Cincinnati stretched their lead out in the top of the fifth. Kyle Waldrop and Jose Peraza led off the inning with back to back singles. Tucker Barnhart then moved Cozart and Peraza ahead with a sac bunt. Zack Cozart stepped to the plate and hit a bases clearing triple into center field. Cozart came home on a Billy Hamilton sac fly.
• Zack Cozart hit a solo shot in the top of the 7th. It was his 11th of the season. Later in the inning, Jay Bruce drove home Brandon Phillips with an RBI double.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Bryan Price told Mark Sheldon that Joey Votto was sick with a "bug." That's why he wasn't in tonight's lineup.
• Earlier today the Reds announced that Raisel Iglesias has been reinstated. Blake Wood was sent to the paternity list.
• Mark Sheldon also noted that Michael Lorenzen should be activated from the DL on Wednesday.
• Marty only likes North Carolina BBQ.
• Tunes.