Votto powers Reds past Rangers
CINCINNATI -- Joey Votto continued his torrid pace at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, and Dan Straily tossed six shutout innings to reach 10 wins on the season, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-0 victory over the Texas Rangers to open a two-game interleague series Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.
Texas, which managed only five hits Tuesday, now leads the surging Seattle Mariners by five games in the American League West.
Since the All-Star break, Votto is batting .455 with six homers and 32 RBIs.
Tuesday's outing was an important one for Texas left-hander Derek Holland, with the club looking for consistency from starters aside from Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish.
Holland (5-6) hadn't pitched since June 20 due to left shoulder inflammation. His ERA was 5.20 after 14 starts with Texas. But, he pitched well enough to win on Tuesday.
Both starting pitchers were dealing early in Tuesday's game.
Through three innings, both Holland and Straily had faced one above the minimum.
Straily (10-6) retired the first seven batters he faced on Tuesday.
After being waived, traded and ultimately claimed by Cincinnati during spring training, Straily has emerged as the Reds most consistent starter.
Cincinnati was denied the game's first run when Joey Votto was thrown out at the plate by second baseman Rougned Odor trying to score from first on Brandon Phillips' bloop double to right.
Holland's first career hit, a bouncer over Votto's head into right field, put runners on first and third with two outs in the fifth. But, Straily got Desmond to fly out.
The Reds flashed leather at both ends of the sixth inning.
Billy Hamilton made a sensational diving catch of Adrian Beltran's deep drive on the warning track in left-center to begin the inning. Third baseman Eugenio Suarez snared Jonathan Lucroy's liner for the third out.
But, Straily's night ended after six innings and 94 pitches. He only allowed three hits, walked two and fanned five.
Cincinnati scored the game's first run when pinch-hitter Tyler holt walked to begin the sixth then scored on Votto's two-out single.
Texas had runners at second and third in the seventh, but Raisel Iglesias fanned Ian Desmond to end the inning.
Cincinnati added an insurance run in the seventh when Tucker Barnhart doubled home Suarez with two outs making the score 2-0.
Votto's sacrifice fly in the eighth provided an insurance run for closer Tony Cingrani who had the tying run at the plate in the ninth but held on for his16th save.
NOTES: The Rangers reinstated OF Josh Hamilton from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday then placed him on unconditional release waivers. Hamilton has missed the entire season after reconstructive knee surgery. Texas reportedly is open to resigning Hamilton to a minor league following the season. ... Rangers LHP Derek Holland was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list prior to Tuesday's game. To make room for Holland, RHP Shawn Tolleson was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock and placed on the 60-day disabled list. ... Reds SS Zack Cozart who has not played since Wednesday due to swelling in his left Achilles tendon, hit in the cage on Tuesday. He plans to take ground balls Wednesday and could return by Friday.