Hoffman cruises after Reds offense scores 7 in third
Joey Votto hit a two-run homer to cap a seven-run third inning and the Cincinnati Reds cruised to a 10-3 rout of the Cleveland Indians on Friday night.
Jeff Hoffman (2-1) gave the Reds another solid start, surrendering just a run and seven hits through six innings and helping himself with a looping RBI single in the third. Hoffman loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the third but got out of it with no damage.
Seven of the Reds starters scored in the bottom of the inning. Eugenio Suárez doubled down the third base line to drive in two, and Votto followed with his shot off the top of the left field wall.
“That inning was huge and set the tone for the rest of the game,” Hoffman said.
Reds manager David Bell said Hoffman pitched even better after contributing offensively.
“I think it got him into the game and gave him some confidence,” Bell said. “That was all he needed. He came out in the fourth, all the way through the end of his night, pitched really well.”
Tyler Stephenson had a two-run single in the fifth inning.
Amed Rosario and Jordan Luplow homered for Cleveland, and Josh Naylor had three hits.
Indians starter Logan Allen (1-2) didn’t make it out of the third inning. He gave up five runs on three hits, but reliever Phil Maton surrendered the big hits to Suárez and Votto beforegettingout of the inning.
“Allen didn’t have a good fastball early,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “I thought we were swinging the bats well enough. I was hoping they wouldn’t get to him, but that’s what ended up happening.”
Piling them up
The Reds have scored 67 runs (9.6 per game) to start the season at Great American Ball Park. According to STATS, that’s the most runs by a team in its first seven home games of a season since the 1900 Boston Beaneaters (Braves franchise) had 71.
Trainer’s room
Reds outfielder Aristides Aquino had surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand and was put on the 10-day injured list. Infielder Max Schrock was recalled from the alternate training site.