The Cincinnati Reds hit four solo home runs and scored two runs on bases-loaded walks to complete a sweep of the visiting Athletics with a 6-5 win on Thursday.
Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, JJ Bleday and Tyler Stephenson all went yard as the Reds completed their third sweep of the season and the first since mid-April against Minnesota.
The Reds are on a four-game home winning streak for the first time since last September.
Reds starter Andrew Abbott (6-7) gave up seven hits and three runs in 6 2/3 innings for his longest outing of the season. The left-hander walked two and struck out four over 88 pitches.
Brock Burke gave up a two-run home run to Brian Serven in the ninth, but still recorded his second save.
A’s starter Mason Barnett (1-2) gave up five hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander walked three and struck out seven on 82 pitches.
The Reds took the lead in the fifth when the Athletics’ pitching staff suddenly lost the strike zone.
Matt McLain was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Stewart singled with one out and Bleday walked to load the bases.
Elvis Alvarado replaced Barnett and struck Stephenson out looking for the second out. Alvarado, however, walked Eugenio Suarez on four pitches and Dane Myers on five to bring home McLain and Stewart for a 5-3 Reds lead.
De La Cruz led off the bottom of the first with a homer to put the Reds up 1-0.
The A’s fought back in the fourth when the first five batters of the frame reached base against Abbott.
Henry Bolte and Tommy White started with back-to-back singles and Jonah Heim walked. Tyler Soderstrom made it 2-1 A’s with a single to center.
Max Muncy singled to reload the bases and Soderstrom scored to make it 3-1 when Lawrence Butler hit into 4-6-3 double play. Butler was originally called safe, but the call was overturned.
Abbott was able to escape the inning with no further damage when Serven flew out to right.
Cincinnati tied it in the bottom of the inning on home runs by Stewart and Stephenson.
Stewart’s 25 home runs are second-most in franchise history for a rookie, trailing only Frank Robinson’s 38 he hit in 1956.
Bleday made it a three-run lead in the seventh with his career-tying 20th home run.
–Field Level Media
