Reds 12, Rays 4: Devin Mesoraco was 2-for-3 with four RBIs, including a three-run homer during a five-run third inning, as Cincinnati pulled away from visiting Tampa Bay to salvage the finale of the three-game series.
Joey Votto also had a two-run blast in the third, Chris Heisey delivered a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth, Zack Cozart knocked in two runs and Brandon Phillips added three hits for the Reds. Tony Cingrani (1-1) yielded two runs on five hits and struck out six over 6 1/3 innings to get the victory for Cincinnati.
Ben Zobrist belted a pair of two-run homers for the Rays, who have scored 13 runs in the last seven games after posting 31 in the first six contests. Tampa Bay starter Cesar Ramos (0-1) lasted only two-plus innings while allowing four runs on three hits and three walks.
Billy Hamilton opened Cincinnati’s third inning with a single and trotted home on Votto’s long home run to right-center field to end Ramos’ day. The Reds put two more on base with two out before Mesoraco slammed a hanging cutter from Brandon Gomes deep into the left-field seats for a 7-2 lead.
The Reds loaded the bases with walks in the second with one out before Cozart drilled a two-run, ground-rule double to open the scoring. The Rays averted further damage with a 6-2-4-3-2 double play to end that frame and tied it on Zobrist’s two-out blast to left-center field in the third.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Tampa Bay RH Alex Cobb, who pitched seven shutout innings Saturday, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with the left oblique strain while LH Jeff Beliveau was recalled and tossed a scoreless frame. … Reds OF Jay Bruce had a double, walked four times and scored four runs. … Umpire Tim Welke worked the 4,000th game of his career.
Tampa Bay | Cincinnati | |
Cesar Ramos | Player | Tony Cingrani |
Loss | W/L | Win |
2.0 | IP | 6.1 |
1 | Strikeouts | 6 |
3 | Hits | 5 |
18.00 | ERA | 2.84 |
Tampa Bay | Cincinnati | |
Yunel Escobar | Player | Brandon Phillips |
2 | Hits | 3 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
2 | TB | 3 |
.667 | Avg | .600 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
Tampa Bay | 7 | 2 | 14 | .212 | 17 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
Cincinnati | 13 | 3 | 24 | .371 | 21 | 4 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 0 |