Schebler, Gennett homer to help end slide
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Cincinnati Reds are feeling a lot better about themselves after stopping a season-high ninegame losing streak Monday night.
Scott Schebler and Scooter Gennett homered, Joey Votto had three hits and snapped an eighth- inning tie with an RBI single and the Reds beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-3 in a game that manager Bryan Price characterized as "one of the most satisfying wins that we've had."
The skid dropped the Reds a season-worst 10 games under .500.
"The reality of it is that no one expects us to do much this year except our club," Price said. "I think everyone wants to stay in it and see what can happen as we get healthy, and you just can't get so far out of it."
Schebler led off the fifth inning with his 19th homer, tying Votto for the team lead. Gennett went deep for the second consecutive day, his first homers since hitting four in a game against St. Louis on June 6, to make it 3- 0 in the sixth.
Votto's RBI single off Jose Alvarado ( 0- 2) put the Reds in front for good after Tampa Bay rallied to tie it on Steven Souza Jr.' s solo homer off Scott Feldman and Daniel Robertson's tworun shot off reliever Michael Lorenzen ( 4- 2).
Rookie Jesse Winker, promoted from tripleA Louisville to take injured shortstop Zack Cozart's spot on the roster, finished Cincinnati's three- run eighth with a bases-loaded single that drove in two to make it 6- 3.
The Reds won for the first time since June 8.
"You want all the games to mean something, and so shutting down this losing streak and playing better baseball," is crucial, Price said. "We have to play better ball to stay relevant in this and get back in it with a nice winning streak."
Feldman allowed two runs and six hits over six- plus innings, holding the Rays scoreless until Souza homered off one of the catwalks supporting the roof at Tropicana Field with two outs in the sixth.
Tampa Bay tied it 3-3 in the seventh when Trevor Plouffe singled off Feldman and Robertson followed with a two-run homer off Lorenzen, who retired all six batters he faced after Robertson to get the win.
For the Rays, the game turned as quickly as they got back in it. Alvarado replaced Odorizzi entering the seventh and gave up a leadoff double to Gennett, who scored the go-ahead run on the second of Votto's three hits.