CINCINNATI -- Billy Hamilton ran the Minnesota Twins into a hole so big they couldn't get out of it.
The speedy leadoff hitter scored three times in the first three innings to help Cincinnati open a huge lead, and the Reds held on for an 11-7 victory over the Twins on Monday night.
It all started with Hamilton, who got on base four times overall and didn't hesitate to take off. He wound up with four steals.
"That's fun," he said. "Getting those four stolen bases gives me a lot of confidence."
The Reds sent 10 batters to the plate for five runs and a 9-1 lead in the third inning, when Mike Pelfrey (5-5) failed to retire any of the four batters he faced. Pelfrey gave up eight runs -- matching his season high -- and nine hits, retiring only six of 17 batters.
Cincinnati's Mike Leake let most of the lead slip away. Ten Twins batted during a six-run rally in the top of the fourth inning. Brian Dozier's three-run homer off Leake cut it to 9-7.
Leake sat around during the Reds' big inning -- he contributed a sacrifice bunt -- and had trouble with his control when he got back on the mound.
"Well, I got a little bored, but that's no excuse," Leake said, referring to the Reds' 10-batter rally. "I just elevated some balls that they took advantage of it. They put a good inning together."
Nate Adcock (1-1) got the victory with two scoreless innings following Leake's exit. Cincinnati's bullpen did not allow a hit in five innings of relief.
"We didn't let this one get away," manager Bryan Price said. "I think for a while there, you had the sinking feeling that we were going to let this one get away."
The Twins haven't overcome an eight-run deficit to win a game since 1929, when they were the Washington Senators, according to STATS. They couldn't pull it off on Monday as the Reds matched their season high with 17 hits.
Every Cincinnati position player had at least one hit, and seven different players scored. The Reds had at least one hit in each inning.
Hamilton reached in each of his first four plate appearances on a pair of infield singles and two walks. His four steals gave him 40 for the season, most in the majors.
Tucker Barnhart had a career-high four hits and drove in a pair of runs. Eugenio Suarez, who is filling in at shortstop with Zack Cozart out for the season, had three hits and drove in three runs.
AGAINST THAT OTHER LEAGUE
The Twins are 7-9 in interleague play this season. The Reds are 4-8.
RESCHEDULED
The Reds' home game against Detroit that was rained out on June 18 will be made up on Monday, Aug. 24.
STEALING FOUR
It was the third time in his career that Hamilton stole at least four bases in a game. He stole five bases on June 14 at Wrigley Field, matching the club record.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: RHP Ricky Nolasco will see another specialist about his sore right ankle, which has sidelined him since the start of June.
Reds: C Devin Mesoraco had surgery on his left hip Monday as planned. He's been on the disabled list since June 25. ... 2B Brandon Phillips was out of the lineup with two sore hands. ... RHP Raisel Iglesias, sidelined since June 5 by a strained oblique, will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Twins: Phil Hughes (6-6) makes his first career appearance against the Reds. He's 9-4 in interleague play with a 3.82 ERA.
Reds: Anthony DeSclafani (5-5) makes his first appearance against the Twins. He has given up seven runs in 11 innings during his last two starts.
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Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay




Final
Series: Game 1 of 3

Twins 7

(40-36, 15-21 away)

Reds 11

(35-40, 21-14 home)




7:10PM.EDT,June 29,2015
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio 

123456789 R H E
MIN 010600000 7 9 0
CIN 31500110 - 11 17 0
W: N. Adcock (1-1)
L: M. Pelfrey (5-5)
 
 
 
 
 
View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-PitchInning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9



Minnesota Twins
HittersABRHRBIBBSO#PAVGOBPSLG
Dozier 2B51130325.266.340.529
Mauer 1B50100219.259.330.367
Hunter RF4110009.265.323.446
Plouffe 3B42210014.254.317.445
Rosario CF31201020.274.305.418
Suzuki C40000214.224.283.310
Escobar LF2111109.249.282.392
0000000.000.000.000
c-Núñez PH
1000002.286.327.495
0000000.000.000.000
Pelfrey P1000014.667.667.667
0000000.000.000.000
a-Vargas PH
1000003.245.278.368
0000000.000.000.000
b-Robinson PH-LF
10001015.252.300.315
Santana SS31110216.217.237.286
Totals34796310150   
a-lined out to third for A Meyer in the 4th
b-walked for J Graham in the 6th
c-grounded to shortstop for R Pressly in the 8th
BATTING
2B: Plouffe (18, Leake); Hunter (14, Leake); Escobar (11, Leake)
HR: Dozier (16, 4th inning off Leake 2 on, 2 Out)
RBI: Plouffe (41), Escobar (28), Santana (12), Dozier 3 (40)
S: Santana
2-out RBI: Santana, Dozier 3
GIDP: Suzuki
Twins RISP: 5-12 (Rosario 1-1, Santana 1-1, Mauer 0-1, Dozier 1-2, Plouffe 1-1, Suzuki 0-3, Vargas 0-1, Escobar 1-2)
Team LOB: 4
BASERUNNING
SB: Rosario (6, 2nd base off Adcock/Barnhart); Robinson (4, 3rd base off Adcock/Barnhart)
FIELDING
DP: 1 (Santana-Dozier-Mauer).

Game Information

StadiumGreat American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH
Attendance28,904 (68.3% full) - % is based on regular season capacity
Game Time3:34
Weather76 degrees, cloudy
Wind12 mph
UmpiresHome Plate - Bob Davidson, First Base - David Rackley, Second Base - Hunter Wendelstedt, Third Base - Jerry Layne