Reds 6, Indians 1
CINCINNATI -- Marlon Byrd fell a triple shy of the cycle and Mike Leake pitched six strong innings and drove in three runs, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night at rainy Great American Ball Park.
Reds first baseman Joey Votto added a solo homer, his 16th home run of the season, in support of Leake, who didn't miss a beat after a one-hour, five-minute rain delay.
Leake (6-4) gave up one run and four hits while throwing 92 pitches. He also contributed an RBI squeeze bunt in the second and a two-run double in the third.
Byrd, who has been mentioned in trade rumors, went 4-for-4 with his 15th homer of the season, a triple, double and two singles.
Cleveland (42-47) managed six hits. Two of those were doubles by center fielder Michael Brantley.
Indians right-hander Trevor Bauer (8-6) lost for the first time since June 28, allowing five earned runs and seven hits, including the two homers, in four innings.
Cleveland's bats briefly woke up in the sixth when shortstop Francisco Lindor led off with a single and left fielder David Murphy followed with a double to put runners at first and third. But Leake staved off a big inning as Lindor scored the Indians' lone run on first baseman Carlos Santana's groundout.
Bauer caught too much of the plate in the second inning with an 0-2 pitch and Byrd made him pay with a home run into the right field seats for a 1-0 lead. Shortstop Eugenio Suarez later scored Cincinnati's second run when Leake placed his squeeze bunt perfectly up the first base line.
Bauer avoided additional damage when he fanned Votto with the bases loaded to end the inning.
Cincinnati loaded the bases again in the third and Leake came through with a two-run double to the wall in right-center field to make the score 4-0 just moments before the skies opened up.
Both starting pitchers returned to the mound after the rain delay with varying degrees of success.
Votto crushed a 3-1 pitch from Bauer an estimated 418 feet to center in the fourth, putting the Reds ahead by five.
NOTES: Cincinnati recalled RHP Jumbo Diaz from Triple-A Louisville and optioned RHP Carlos Contreras to Triple-A. ... The Reds claimed RHP Donn Roach off waivers from the Chicago Cubs and optioned him to Triple-A. ... The Reds outrighted RHP Donovan Hand to Triple-A Louisville after he was designated for assignment earlier in the week. ... Indians LHP Nick Hagadone is getting a second medical opinion on his elbow after he injured it Wednesday during a rehab appearance for Class A Mahoning Valley. Hagadone has been on the disabled list with a lower-back strain since July 8. ... Indians OF Nick Swisher, on the DL with left knee inflammation, took batting practice for Class A Lake County on Friday and will do so again Saturday before beginning a minor-league rehab assignment. ... Reds RHP Mike Leake's 75 hits are the most for any major league pitcher since 2010. ... The Reds have had 18 rain delays (11 at home) this season totaling 22 hours, 45 minutes.