Rockies batter Greene, hand Reds 17th loss in 20 games to start year
DENVER — Ryan McMahon hit a tiebreaking, three-run home run in the fifth inning and the Colorado Rockies sent the Cincinnati Reds to their major league-worst 17th loss in 20 games with a 10-4 victory on Friday night.
Elias Diaz also went deep and Antonio Senzatela (2-1) pitched 6 1/3 strong innings for the Rockies, who had 14 hits and snapped a four-game skid hours after star Kris Bryant was placed on the 10-day injured list with a sore back.
The Reds are off to their worst start since beginning 3-18 in 2018, and dropped their fourth straight.
Hunter Greene had an uneven start after regularly surpassing 100 mph in his first two starts. On Friday, his fastball was clocked in the 96-97 mph range for the second straight outing, and McMahon pulled a 96-mph fastball into the second deck in right for his second homer.
Greene (1-3) was charged with four runs and six hits with four walks and six strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.
After Diaz’s wind-aided homer to right in the second on a blustery night at Coors Field, the Reds tied it in the fourth. Tommy Pham, who had four hits and drove in two, led off with a double and scored on Kyle Farmer’s sacrifice fly.
Jonathan India had three hits but grounded into Cincinnati’s fourth double play with the bases loaded against Jhoulys Chacin to end the seventh.
It was a difficult night for fielders with the strong left-to-right wind. A gust lifted the Reds’ on-deck circle into the air in the first inning, while wrappers and napkins swirled about for much of the game. Pham misjudged Alan Trejo’s deep fly to left-center that turned into an RBI double in Colorado’s fourrun seventh against ex-Rockies lefty Phillip Diehl.
Senzatela gave up a run and seven hits with two walks and one strikeout after being roughed up in a 13-0 loss at Detroit last week.
Trainer’s room
Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (concussion) is making “encouraging” progress and could return as soon as Tuesday, manager David Bell said . ... RHP Luis Castillo (shoulder) allowed no runs, two hits and three walks and struck out five in 3 2/3 innings for Triple-A Louisville.
Roster moves
Reliever Ryan Hendrix cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A . ... RHP Connor Overton was added to the taxi squad and was scheduled to start Saturday.
Up next
The Reds were expected to make a roster move so the 28-yearold Overton could make his Reds debut and seventh career start Saturday night against Rockies right-hander Chad Kuhl (2-0, 1.10 ERA).