Midview’s Lauer does a bit of everything in win

It was a big night for Eric Lauer on June 2 with the rebuilding Padres.

The Midview grad and rookie left-handed starter got things started when he pitched five strong innings, drove in his first run and picked off Joey Votto to tie for the major-league lead, and helped San Diego to an 8-2 victory against the Reds.

Lauer (2-3) won for the first time in five starts. The Kent State product has largely struggled since making his MLB debut on April 24, but put together a nice outing and was backed by a four-run second inning against Matt Harvey (1-4). Lauer allowed one run on five hits, struck out four and walked two. He came in with a 7.67 ERA and lasted only 2 1/3 innings in his previous start, a 7-2 loss to Miami.

“It’s great for his confidence,” manager Andy Green said of Lauer’s outing against the Reds. “Now we want to stack a good one on top of a good one. That will be the next challenge out in front of him. He can get big-league hitters out. We know it, and we know there will be growing pains along the way. But there’s a lot to like there.”

Lauer’s only real mistake was allowing Curt Casali’s solo homer in his first Reds at-bat with one out in the second. The Reds’ Joey Votto singled with two outs in the third and was picked off by Lauer, who tied Atlanta’s Julio Teheran with five pickoffs, the most in the majors.

“I think from an overall standpoint, I helped the team in more aspects,” Lauer told reporters after the game. “The RBI and pickoff are kind of bonuses, I think. Overall, though, it’s one of those outings where you look back and I helped the team in multiple ways.

“It’s something build off more than anything. Because I definitely want to go longer in games. But being able to show I can get through five even in tough situations … to prove to myself I can get through those tough innings, that is something to build off.”

With the score tied at 1-1, the Padres loaded the bases with no outs against Harvey in the second, on singles by rookie Franmil Reyes and Freddy Galvis, and a walk by A.J. Ellis. Manuel Margot hit a tworun double down the rightfield line. Lauer followed with a sacrifice fly for his first RBI.