CINCINNATI – They were locked up twice during the newly completed West Coast road trip, but the Reds’ offense came alive again in the home on Great American Ball Park.
A six-run run in the third innings offered another Joey Votto home run when Cincinnati beat Cleveland 10-3 in the opening round of the Ohio Cup Series.
‘It’s nice to be part of a series like this. “I’m not sure if I’ve been part of a series like this in my career,” said Votto. ‘I’m not sure … so far. It’s very early. I do not want to precede myself. ”
This is how the home field advantage for the Reds feels:
• Through seven home games, they are 6-1, including six consecutive home winners.
• The Reds scored 67 runs in those seven games, averaging 9.57 runs per game.
• The run differential at home is +38, compared to minus 12 on the 2-4 ride.
• Overall, the Reds lead the major leagues by 85 runs and are second with a .827 OPS.
“Yes, we were clearly unhappy with our trip, certainly as it was finished,” Votto said. “It’s good to be back. It’s good to play well in front of the Reds’ fans in Cincinnati. But we often think about being a dangerous team everywhere. Of course we want to win at home as often as possible, but we have bigger and better things. ”
Against Logan Allen, the Reds retired in each of the first two innings, leaving 1-0 behind. The bottom of the third innings began when Kyle Farmer scorched a ball through the legs of third baseman José Ramírez for an error and Tyler Stephenson was hit by a sheet. A wild pitch for Jeff Hoffman moved both runners before Hoffman hit an RBI single in midfield.
With the door open just a crack, the Reds burst through as Hoffman’s single was the first of five consecutive hits. Against reliever Phil Maton, Eugenio Suárez pulls a two-way double to the left. On a 2-1 Maton field, Votto lifts it for a two-way homer left field – his third long ball in his last four games – to make it a 7-1 game.
At night, Votto hit 14 balls at an exit speed of 100 km per hour, according to Statcast. On Friday, his homer was hit at 103.6 mph and his sixth shift to left field was 104.3 mph – and he just missed out on being another homer. This had a double effect.
“As I mentioned a few days ago, I need to put the ball more in the air,” Votto said. ‘Hitting the ball hard is nice, but it’s better to put the ball in the air. Yes, two good swings today. We need to keep it going together. Very good swings throughout the series. ”
Add-on Reds runs took place in fifth place on Stephenson’s single by two runs and in the sixth time when Nick Castellanos sent a one-time solo homer to the right midfield.
“I do not think it’s necessarily a home affair. I know it has looked that way up to this point, “said Reds manager David Bell. ‘We are trying to put together an offense that is equally effective at home and on the road. I think the way we have some of these innings you can have such innings at any ballpark. ”
After working early, Hoffman allowed one deserved run and seven hits over six overs with three runs and four results. Amed Rosario hit a solo homer in the second innings. While Hoffman loaded the base on two runs and a single in the third innings, the Reds’ bullpen became active. But Hoffman escaped without giving up another run and enjoyed a good start.
“I think after I got my hit, it took a while to get their first out, so it was kind of, we smelled blood, and we have guys that if they smell blood, they’re going to get it.” Hoffman said. “It was a big turn for us and to get me that pillow, and it was just like I just had to do to attack the area from then on, force contact and get out of here with the win. “