Reds homer four times to crush Padres 11-3 in series opener

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

The incomparable Joey Votto continued his torrid offensive run on Monday, homering again as part of his 2 for 3, 2 run, 3 ribbie evening against Jhouly Chacin and the San Diego Padres. He walked, too, of course.

His homer was both the 30th of his season and the 136th he’s hit in Great American Ball Park, both of which deserve a bit of fleshing out. While he’s managed to reach 29 homers in now five different seasons, only in his 2010 MVP season did he actually crack the 30 mark, so the former number is delightful for you round-number aficionados. As for dinger number 136 in GABP, well, that broke the tie he held with Jay Bruce for the most in the 14 year old stadium’s history, which is certainly an accomplishment worth celebrating.

So, congrats to Joey, who just days ago seemed as if he was in a slump to start the second half of the season only to maul his way back to being deific with a flurry of awesome power.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Patrick Kivlehan, who mashed a grand slam; Adam Duvall, who mauled his 25th homer of the season; Zack Cozart, who homered, was on base via walk, added a single (and scored twice); Michael Lorenzen, who fanned 4 in his 1.2 scoreless IP; and Billy Hamilton, who tripled and scored twice.

Key Plays

• Cincinnati wasted little time jumping on Jhouly Chacin in this one, as Hamilton smoked a leadoff triple into the RF corner in the Bottom of the 1st. Then, after Cozart walked, Votto parked a laser of a single into RF to score Billy, and the Reds led immediately, 1-0.
• Votto continued the damage in the Bottom of the 3rd, cranking his 251st career dinger into the seats in LF, a laser of a 2-run shot that came immediately after Cozy reached on an infield single. Reds led, 3-0.
• Tim Adleman had cruised through the Padres’ lineup the first time through, remaining perfect until the Top of the 4th. That changed quickly, however, as the top of the order opened with double-double-HR-single, the Jose Pirela HR fortunately only being a 2-run shot as Manuel Margot was thrown out at 3B trying to turn the first of those doubles into a triple. Reds led, 3-2.
• Votto again played a part in the next Cincinnati surge, walking to open the Bottom of the 6th off Chacin and scoring a batter later on Duvall’s 2-run blast over the CF wall - which he crushed on a hanging breaking ball. Reds led, 5-2.
• Cozart’s homer came in the Bottom of the 7th, a 2-run blast on the heels of a 1-out walk from Patrick Kivlehan (who was out on a fielder’s choice that left Hamilton on-base in his stead). Reds led, 7-2.
• Pirela went deep for a second time in the Top of the 8th, this time off Wandy Peralta in his second inning of work. ‘Twas only a solo shot, however, and the Reds remained well in front, 7-3.
• The Reds got that run back and a whole heapin’ helping more in the Bottom of the 8th. A double by Scooter Gennett off Carter Capps - who hadn’t pitched in an MLB game in some two years - began things, and Capps later loaded the bases by walking both Arismendy Alcantara and Tucker Barnhart. That brought Phil Maton in from the bullpen, and Kivlehan promptly turned around his first pitch of the game for a grand slam to put the game into Scrabbles territory. Reds led 11-3 at that point, which is how things finished.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Adleman was pulled with runners on the corners in the Top of the 5th despite having thrown just 76 pitches and allowing 2 ER. However, given how quickly things had unraveled for him - he was perfect through 3 IP but allowed 6 H and a walk in the next 1.2 IP - I give props to Bryan Price for going to the bullpen. That’s especially true considering Adleman had been demoted from the rotation prior to Robert Stephenson landing on the DL.
• Speaking of the rotation, it seems Scott Feldman will be ready to come off the DL this weekend, according to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. Saturday would be the spot currently occupied by Adleman, so that’ll be worth watching the rest of the week. Also, scroll down in that article and you’ll find that Devin Mesoraco is currently on the paternity list after he and his wife welcomed their first child into the world over the weekend.
• The second tussle of this series will begin on Tuesday at 7:10 PM ET. Luis Perdomo will get the start for the Friars, while Sal Romano will get another turn as a starter for the Reds.
• Tunes.