Offense missing in second game
Lack of scoring returns; Padres hit three homers
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds had a chance to put a nice capper on the homestand. A victory in the nightcap of yesterday’s day-night doubleheader would have given them a sweep, a series win and a winning homestand.
But they fell flat in a disheartening 6-1 loss to the San Diego Padres before a crowd of 23,544 at Great American Ball Park. That came on the heels of an encouraging 5-0 win in the opener behind ace Johnny Cueto.
The Reds, though, haven’t been able to gain any semblance of momentum over the past three weeks. Since getting to .500 on April 24, they are 7-10 and have won back-to-back games only once in that stretch.
Cincinnati managed only three hits off Tyson Ross (5-3). Two of the three hits didn’t leave the infield.
It was ninth time the Reds have been limited to one or no runs in their 39 games, and they have scored three runs or fewer 19 times. They have scored the second-fewest runs in the National League.
“We have no answers right now,” third baseman Todd Frazier said. “It’s frustrating. We know we should have won the series. We’re better than this. It’s just frustrating.”
The Padres, who managed only three hits off Cueto in the opener, responded with three home runs in the second game.
Jeff Francis, called up from triple-A Louisville for the start, went five innings and allowed three runs and five hits. Rene Rivera hit a two-run shot in the second for San Diego.
The Cincinnati bullpen let the game get away by allowing two more homers. Logan Ondrusek, Sean Marshall and Sam LeCure each allowed a run.
In the opener, Brandon Phillips hit a three-run homer and a double, providing the offense behind Cueto’s gem.
Information from the Associated Press was included in this story.