Reds 4, Rockies 3
CINCINNATI -- Brandon Phillips fell a homer shy of the cycle and Robert Stephenson posted his second career victory as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.
Phillips singled, doubled and tripled in his first three at-bats before he singled again in the ninth to finish 4-for-4.
Stephenson (2-0) was recalled from Triple-A hours before the game when scheduled starter Alfredo Simon was scratched because of biceps tendinitis.
Stephenson labored only briefly in the second inning but rolled after that, giving up one earned run and three hits in seven innings.
Starter Jorge De La Rosa (1-2) lasted just two innings and took the loss for Colorado (8-6), which got six scoreless innings of relief, including four by Chris Rusin, who gave up two hits.
Yet again, the bullpen made things interesting for Cincinnati (7-7) when struggling closer J.J. Hoover, working in a non-save situation, allowed a two-run homer by Mark Reynolds with two outs in the ninth.
Stephenson gave up three earned runs in five innings in his major league debut on April 7 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Despite being thrust into emergency service against the Rockies, Stephenson was sharp early. His fastball reached 96 mph, and he effectively mixed in his changeup while retiring the first five batters he faced.
With two outs in the second, Reynolds doubled, advanced to third on a balk, then scored on Ben Paulsen's broken-bat single to center, putting the Rockies up 1-0.
De La Rosa struggled with his command and delivery as the Reds ran wild in the second.
Cincinnati stole five bases in the inning, their most in one inning since at least the 1920s, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
Billy Hamilton's two-run double and an RBI single by Zack Cozart that extended his hitting streak to eight staked the Reds to a 4-1 lead.
After allowing a double and a walk to begin the third, De La Rosa was lifted for Rusin. De La Rosa was charged with four runs in two-plus innings.
NOTES: RHP Robert Stephenson was recalled from Triple-A Louisville to make his second career start in Simon's place and RHP Jumbo Diaz was optioned to Triple-A to clear room. ... Rockies 2B DJ LeMahieu returned to action after missing two games with groin tightness. ... Reds C Devin Mesoraco and 3B Eugenio Suarez were back in the lineup after a day off.