Rockies batters overpower Reds
Ian Desmond hit a two-run homer, and Gerardo Parra and Tony Wolters each drove in two runs Wednesday night as the bottom of Colorado's batting order powered the Rockies to a 6-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
Cincinnati's Scooter Gennett drove in a pair of runs with a double and a sacrifice fly on the one-year anniversary of his record-setting game.
The second baseman became the 17th player in major league history to hit four home runs last June 6 against the Cardinals at Great American Ball Park. Gennett also became the first to have four homers, five hits and 10 RBI in a game.
He was no match for the Rockies' 6-through-8 hitters, who combined for five of the team's eight hits and all of its RBI. Wolters batted eighth and doubled home a run with two outs in the second inning against Sal Romano (3-7). Sixthplace hitter Parra singled home a run in the fourth, and Desmond followed Caleb Ferguson pitches for the Dodgers against the Pirates in the first inning of his first major league game. Ferguson, a West Jefferson High School graduate, allowed four runs in 1 2/3 innings but did not factor into the decision. The Pirates won 11-9. with his 11th homer for a 4-2 lead.
Jon Gray (6-6) went five innings and showed signs of emerging from his recent struggles.
The Reds fell to 21-41. They've matched the 1950 team for second-worst start in franchise history, trailing only the 1934 team that went 19-43. Red Schoendienst, the Hall of Fame second baseman who managed the St. Louis Cardinals to two pennants and a World Series championship in the 1960s, died Wednesday. He was 95. The Cardinals announced Schoendienst's death during a game against the Miami Marlins. were among nine with area ties selected in the final day of the Major League Baseball draft.
Ohio Dominican right-handed pitcher Brad Wilson, a Northridge graduate, was taken by Toronto in the 13th round. In the next pick, Ohio State rising freshman catcher Keegan Fish was taken by the Marlins.
In round 16, Louisville reliever Sam Bordner of BloomCarroll went to Miami. Ohio State catcher Jacob Barnwell went to Colorado in the 22nd round, and teammate Connor Curlis, a lefthanded relief pitcher, went two rounds later to Cincinnati.
In the 25th round, Lipscomb second baseman Lee Solomon of Columbus was taken by San Diego. In the 30th round, Olentangy Orange graduate Tyler Johnson, a right-handed reliever at GardnerWebb, was drafted by the New York Yankees. In round 33, Ohio Dominican first baseman Justin Childers of Pickerington North was picked by Detroit. Recent Big Walnut graduate Austin Becker, a right-handed pitcher, was selected in round 37 by Texas.