CINCINNATI -- Joey Votto's hitting has finally come around midway through the season, just like it did last year.
Votto, Zack Cozart and Eugenio Suarez all homered in the fourth inning as the Cincinnati Reds got the better of a matchup between the NL's two worst teams, beating the Atlanta Braves 8-2 on Monday night.
The Reds (35-58) have taken three of five this season against the Braves, who have the majors' worst record (32-61). Atlanta is 19-31 all-time at Great American Ball Park, including five losses in its last six games.
The Reds connected three times off Matt Wisler (4-9), who has given up five homers in his last two starts. Cozart led off the fourth with his 15th homer, and Votto extended his second-half resurgence with a two-run shot. In four games since returning from the All-Star break, Votto is 8 for 15.
"Early in the season, I was struggling hitting fastballs over the plate," said Votto, who was batting .213 at the end of May. "That's something I needed to correct. You can't play in this league without being able to hit fastballs. That was step one, and you go from there."
Suarez's two-run homer just inside the left-field foul pole made it 5-1. Votto later added an RBI single.
The former NL Most Valuable Player also had a subpar first half last season, then led the majors by batting .362 after the All-Star break. So far this July, he's batting .351.
"I've got a great feeling," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He's able to play without the frustration that goes with those early struggles. That's a relief for me to see him go out there just playing baseball. He looks very much like the player who enjoyed a ridiculous second half last year."
Left-hander Brandon Finnegan (5-7) pitched into the sixth and gave up seven hits -- three of them by Adonis Garcia, who hit a solo homer in the sixth. Finnegan had lost three of his last four starts, giving up 20 runs in 19 innings.
Wisler won his last start, 11-8 over the White Sox in Chicago on July 8 despite giving up six runs, including two homers. Since the start of June, he's 2-4 in eight starts with a 7.06 ERA.
"The ball started getting up," Wisler said. "Once the ball started getting up, they started teeing it up on me. I can't keep having outings like this. It's frustrating."
Billy Hamilton singled three times, scored a run and stole three bases for a total of 27, the third-most in the NL.
THAT'S FAST
Mauricio Cabrera threw a pitch at 103.8 mph, according to MLB's Statcast system. It's the ninth-fastest pitch since Statcast began tracking last year. The eight higher ones were thrown by Aroldis Chapman, including a 105.1 mph one Monday night.
STATS
Wisler also gave up three homers in an inning on June 11 against the Cubs. ... It was the third time this season that the Reds hit three homers in an inning. They also did it April 23 against the Cubs and May 4 against the Giants. ... Garcia has hit safely in all five games against the Reds this season, going 11 for 22 with two homers. ... Cozart's 15 homers match his career high. He most recently hit 15 in 2012. Twelve of his 15 have been solo shots.
MESORACO SURGERY
Reds C Devin Mesoraco had surgery on his right hip Monday, his third major operation in a year. He had surgery on the left hip last season and was back for opening day. He had surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder in May. The right hip started bothering him early this season, and doctors advised that it would require surgery at some point as well.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: RH Shae Simmons threw a simulated game on Monday. He's recovering from Tommy John surgery in February 2015.
Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips was back in the lineup after missing two games with a strained right calf. He went 1 for 3 -- extending his hitting streak to seven games -- and left for a pinch hitter in the seventh.
UP NEXT
Braves: RHP Tyrell Jenkins (0-1, 4.50) makes his second career start and sixth major league appearance.
Reds: LHP Cody Reed (0-4, 8.39) makes his sixth career start. He has failed to last five innings in his last three starts.
---
Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay
7:10PM,EDT,July 18,2016
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Atlanta Braves
Votto, Zack Cozart and Eugenio Suarez all homered in the fourth inning as the Cincinnati Reds got the better of a matchup between the NL's two worst teams, beating the Atlanta Braves 8-2 on Monday night.
The Reds (35-58) have taken three of five this season against the Braves, who have the majors' worst record (32-61). Atlanta is 19-31 all-time at Great American Ball Park, including five losses in its last six games.
The Reds connected three times off Matt Wisler (4-9), who has given up five homers in his last two starts. Cozart led off the fourth with his 15th homer, and Votto extended his second-half resurgence with a two-run shot. In four games since returning from the All-Star break, Votto is 8 for 15.
"Early in the season, I was struggling hitting fastballs over the plate," said Votto, who was batting .213 at the end of May. "That's something I needed to correct. You can't play in this league without being able to hit fastballs. That was step one, and you go from there."
Suarez's two-run homer just inside the left-field foul pole made it 5-1. Votto later added an RBI single.
The former NL Most Valuable Player also had a subpar first half last season, then led the majors by batting .362 after the All-Star break. So far this July, he's batting .351.
"I've got a great feeling," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "He's able to play without the frustration that goes with those early struggles. That's a relief for me to see him go out there just playing baseball. He looks very much like the player who enjoyed a ridiculous second half last year."
Left-hander Brandon Finnegan (5-7) pitched into the sixth and gave up seven hits -- three of them by Adonis Garcia, who hit a solo homer in the sixth. Finnegan had lost three of his last four starts, giving up 20 runs in 19 innings.
Wisler won his last start, 11-8 over the White Sox in Chicago on July 8 despite giving up six runs, including two homers. Since the start of June, he's 2-4 in eight starts with a 7.06 ERA.
"The ball started getting up," Wisler said. "Once the ball started getting up, they started teeing it up on me. I can't keep having outings like this. It's frustrating."
Billy Hamilton singled three times, scored a run and stole three bases for a total of 27, the third-most in the NL.
THAT'S FAST
Mauricio Cabrera threw a pitch at 103.8 mph, according to MLB's Statcast system. It's the ninth-fastest pitch since Statcast began tracking last year. The eight higher ones were thrown by Aroldis Chapman, including a 105.1 mph one Monday night.
STATS
Wisler also gave up three homers in an inning on June 11 against the Cubs. ... It was the third time this season that the Reds hit three homers in an inning. They also did it April 23 against the Cubs and May 4 against the Giants. ... Garcia has hit safely in all five games against the Reds this season, going 11 for 22 with two homers. ... Cozart's 15 homers match his career high. He most recently hit 15 in 2012. Twelve of his 15 have been solo shots.
MESORACO SURGERY
Reds C Devin Mesoraco had surgery on his right hip Monday, his third major operation in a year. He had surgery on the left hip last season and was back for opening day. He had surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder in May. The right hip started bothering him early this season, and doctors advised that it would require surgery at some point as well.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Braves: RH Shae Simmons threw a simulated game on Monday. He's recovering from Tommy John surgery in February 2015.
Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips was back in the lineup after missing two games with a strained right calf. He went 1 for 3 -- extending his hitting streak to seven games -- and left for a pinch hitter in the seventh.
UP NEXT
Braves: RHP Tyrell Jenkins (0-1, 4.50) makes his second career start and sixth major league appearance.
Reds: LHP Cody Reed (0-4, 8.39) makes his sixth career start. He has failed to last five innings in his last three starts.
---
Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay
7:10PM,EDT,July 18,2016
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Atlanta - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Brandon Finnegan pitching for Cincinnati | ATL | CIN |
| Beckham grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| García singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Freeman struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| García caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Matt Wisler pitching for Atlanta | ATL | CIN |
| Cozart flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Hamilton lined out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Votto lined out to pitcher. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Brandon Finnegan pitching for Cincinnati | ATL | CIN |
| Markakis grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Francoeur popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Inciarte grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Matt Wisler pitching for Atlanta | ATL | CIN |
| Bruce singled to right center. | 0 | 0 |
| Duvall struck out swinging. Bruce caught stealing second, catcher to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Phillips struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Brandon Finnegan pitching for Cincinnati | ATL | CIN |
| A Recker walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Aybar lined out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Wisler struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Beckham popped out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Matt Wisler pitching for Atlanta | ATL | CIN |
| Suárez popped out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Barnhart singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Finnegan grounded into double play, third to second to first, Barnhart out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Brandon Finnegan pitching for Cincinnati | ATL | CIN |
| García singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Freeman struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Markakis lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Francoeur doubled to deep center, García scored. | 1 | 0 |
| Inciarte lined out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Matt Wisler pitching for Atlanta | ATL | CIN |
| Cozart homered to left (363 feet). | 1 | 1 |
| Hamilton singled to center. | 1 | 1 |
| Hamilton to second on balk by Wisler. | 1 | 1 |
| Hamilton stole third. | 1 | 1 |
| Votto homered to right (404 feet), Hamilton scored. | 1 | 3 |
| Bruce grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 3 |
| Duvall struck out swinging. | 1 | 3 |
| Phillips singled to right. | 1 | 3 |
| Suárez homered to left (392 feet), Phillips scored. | 1 | 5 |
| Barnhart flied out to left. | 1 | 5 |
| 5 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Brandon Finnegan pitching for Cincinnati | ATL | CIN |
| A Recker singled to deep right. | 1 | 5 |
| Aybar lined out to right. | 1 | 5 |
| Wisler struck out looking. | 1 | 5 |
| A Recker stole second. | 1 | 5 |
| Beckham struck out swinging. | 1 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Matt Wisler pitching for Atlanta | ATL | CIN |
| Finnegan flied out to left. | 1 | 5 |
| Cozart grounded out to third. | 1 | 5 |
| Hamilton singled to center. | 1 | 5 |
| Hamilton stole second. | 1 | 5 |
| Votto walked. | 1 | 5 |
| Bruce lined out to right. | 1 | 5 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Brandon Finnegan pitching for Cincinnati | ATL | CIN |
| García homered to right (380 feet). | 2 | 5 |
| Freeman hit a ground rule double to deep right. | 2 | 5 |
| Markakis singled to right center, Freeman to third. | 2 | 5 |
| Wood relieved Finnegan. | 2 | 5 |
| Francoeur struck out swinging. | 2 | 5 |
| Inciarte lined out to third. | 2 | 5 |
| A Recker struck out swinging. | 2 | 5 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Matt Wisler pitching for Atlanta | ATL | CIN |
| Duvall walked. | 2 | 5 |
| De La Cruz relieved Wisler. | 2 | 5 |
| Phillips grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Duvall safe at second on throwing error by shortstop Aybar. | 2 | 5 |
| Suárez struck out swinging. | 2 | 5 |
| Barnhart singled to left center, Duvall scored, Phillips to second. | 2 | 6 |
| Waldrop hit for Wood. | 2 | 6 |
| Waldrop struck out swinging. | 2 | 6 |
| Cozart grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 6 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Raisel Iglesias pitching for Cincinnati | ATL | CIN |
| Iglesias relieved Wood. | 2 | 6 |
| Aybar grounded out to first. | 2 | 6 |
| Peterson hit for De La Cruz. | 2 | 6 |
| Peterson grounded out to second. | 2 | 6 |
| Beckham grounded out to second. | 2 | 6 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Eric O'Flaherty pitching for Atlanta | ATL | CIN |
| O'Flaherty relieved De La Cruz. | 2 | 6 |
| Hamilton reached on infield single to second. | 2 | 6 |
| Hamilton stole second. | 2 | 6 |
| Votto singled to right, Hamilton scored. | 2 | 7 |
| Bruce grounded out to pitcher, Votto to second. | 2 | 7 |
| Duvall fouled out to right, Votto to third. | 2 | 7 |
| De Jesús hit for Phillips. | 2 | 7 |
| De Jesús singled to right, Votto scored. | 2 | 8 |
| Suárez struck out swinging. | 2 | 8 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Raisel Iglesias pitching for Cincinnati | ATL | CIN |
| De Jesús at second base. | 2 | 8 |
| García grounded out to second. | 2 | 8 |
| Freeman walked. | 2 | 8 |
| Markakis singled to left, Freeman to second. | 2 | 8 |
| Francoeur grounded out to shortstop, Freeman to third, Markakis to second. | 2 | 8 |
| Inciarte struck out swinging. | 2 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Mauricio Cabrera pitching for Atlanta | ATL | CIN |
| Cabrera relieved O'Flaherty. | 2 | 8 |
| Barnhart lined out to left. | 2 | 8 |
| Holt hit for Iglesias. | 2 | 8 |
| Holt walked. | 2 | 8 |
| Cozart struck out swinging. | 2 | 8 |
| Hamilton grounded out to second. | 2 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Atlanta - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Ross Ohlendorf pitching for Cincinnati | ATL | CIN |
| Ohlendorf relieved Iglesias. | 2 | 8 |
| A Recker grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 8 |
| Aybar grounded out to third. | 2 | 8 |
| Pierzynski hit for Cabrera. | 2 | 8 |
| Pierzynski doubled to deep center. | 2 | 8 |
| Beckham grounded out to third. | 2 | 8 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Atlanta Braves
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckham 2B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26 | .256 | .353 | .405 |
| García 3B | 4 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .259 | .299 | .365 |
| Freeman 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 19 | .277 | .365 | .503 |
| Markakis RF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .255 | .332 | .361 |
| Francoeur LF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .256 | .295 | .389 |
| Inciarte CF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .235 | .300 | .317 |
| A Recker C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 19 | .400 | .625 | .400 |
| Aybar SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | .206 | .257 | .259 |
| Wisler P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | .063 | .061 | .063 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .250 | .250 | .250 | |
a-Peterson PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .276 | .358 | .397 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 | |
Cabrera P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
b-Pierzynski PH
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | .216 | .237 | .281 |
| Totals | 35 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 150 | |||
| a-grounded to second for J De La Cruz in the 7th b-doubled to deep center for M Cabrera in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Francoeur (13, Finnegan); Freeman (22, Finnegan); Pierzynski (9, Ohlendorf) HR: García (6, 6th inning off Finnegan 0 on, 0 Out) RBI: Francoeur (26), García (27) 2-out RBI: Francoeur Braves RISP: 1-9 (Inciarte 0-3, A Recker 0-1, Markakis 1-1, Francoeur 0-2, Beckham 0-2) Team LOB: 8 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: A Recker (1, 2nd base off Finnegan/Barnhart) CS: García (1, 2nd base by Finnegan/Barnhart) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Aybar (10, throw) DP: 2 (A Recker-Beckham, García-Beckham-Freeman). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH |
| Attendance | 21,989 (52% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:11 |
| Weather | 82 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 5 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Ted Barrett, First Base - Lance Barksdale, Second Base - Angel Hernandez, Third Base - Will Little |
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