Reds’ Dietrich hits 3 homers, injury strikes Pirates again
Cincinnati’s Derek Dietrich was describing his three-homer game for reporters when Scooter Gennett walked past.
“Anybody can hit three, Derek,” said Gennett, who tied the majorleague record with four homers at Great American Ball Park in 2017.
Dietrich’s big game didn’t set any records, but it extended an unexpected tear. He hit three homers, all tworun shots, and the Pirates suffered another injury to their rotation Tuesday night as the host Reds rolled to an 11-6 victory.
“This is more than just a hot streak,” manager David Bell said.
Dietrich grounded out in his first at-bat and connected in the fourth off Jordan Lyles (5-2), who left after the inning with discomfort in his left hamstring. Dietrich connected off Geoff Hartlieb in the fifth and again in the seventh, his first three-homer game.
Signed to a minorleague deal in February, Dietrich has been playing with Gennett out with a groin injury. His 17 homers set a career high, and 12 of his past 17 hits are home runs.
“They believe in me,” Dietrich said. “They gave me an opportunity. That’s all I’ve ever needed along the way.”
Lyles had an awkward follow-through on a pitch in the fourth but completed the inning. The Pirates, already missing starters Jameson Taillon and Trevor Williams, have had 22 players on the injured list this year.
Pittsburgh second baseman Kevin Newman hit a grand slam in the eighth, the rookie’s first big-league homer. Mets 7, Dodgers 3: Michael Conforto hit a grand slam in the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie as visiting New York defeated Los Angeles. Padres 5, Yankees 4: Eric Hosmer hit a three-run homer off Masahiro Tanaka in a big first inning, and San Diego manager Andy Green used six pitchers in an eight-batter span to quell a late rally by host New York. Tigers Boyd took 3, Orioles a five-hitter 0: Matthew into the seventh inning, Niko Goodrum homered and visiting Detroit topped Baltimore for its second win in its past 14 games. Phillies 4, Cardinals 3: Cesar Hernandez hit a go-ahead two-run homer, Nick Pivetta threw five tough innings and host Philadelphia downed slumping St. Louis, which lost for the 11th time in 15 games. Indians 7, Red Sox 5: Roberto Perez and Greg Allen homered for visiting Cleveland during a five-run ninth inning as the Indians rallied to best Boston. The game featured solid starts by Boston’s David Price and Cleveland’s Zach Plesac, who carried a shutout into the sixth inning of his big-league debut. Rays 3, Blue Jays 1: Austin Meadows homered for the third straight game and five pitchers combined to throw a six-hitter as host Tampa Bay beat Toronto, which has lost six of its past seven games. Rockies 6, D’backs 2: Chris Iannetta, a late sub for catcher Tony Wolters (bruised finger), hit a two-run homer in the seventh for host Colorado, which is 4-1 with three walkoff wins in its season-long 10-game homestand. Rangers 11, Mariners 4: Ronald Guzman and Nomar Mazara homered as Texas built an 11-0 lead in the first five innings. Mallex Smith had three hits, including a two-run double, for host Seattle, loser of 10 of its past 12 games. Nationals 5, Braves 4: Stephen Strasburg tied his season high with 11 strikeouts in seven innings, and visiting Washington took the lead on three straight walks to beat Atlanta. Astros 9, Cubs 6: Alex Bregman homered twice, his second a tie-breaking two-run shot in the sixth inning that propelled host Houston past Chicago and gave manager AJ Hinch his 500th career victory. Twins 5, Brewers 3: Lefthander Devin Smeltzer pitched six shutout innings in his big-league debut as host Minnesota beat Milwaukee. White Sox ‘sweep’ Royals: Lucas Giolito struck out 10 Royals while winning his fifth straight start and host Chicago posted its second victory of the day, defeating Kansas City 4-3. Previously, in the resumption of a game that had been suspended Monday after a long rain delay, Yolmer Sanchez hit an RBI single in the ninth for a 2-1 White Sox win.