Reds 4, Indians 2
Joey Votto belted a two-run homer to left-center in the eighth inning to break open a tie game and push host Cincinnati to its 13th victory in its last 16 games.
With the game tied at 2, Votto hit a 2-1 pitch off Nick Hagadone (0-1) for his ninth homer. Jonathan Broxton (2-1) retired two hitters in the eighth to get the win and Aroldis Chapman struck out a pair during a flawless ninth for his 13th save.
Shin-Soo Choo hit the fourth pitch he saw from Indians starter Ubaldo Jimenez over the left-field fence for a homer and a 1-0 lead. Carlos Santana’s sacrifice fly in the fourth knotted it, but Brandon Phillips’ sacrifice fly to right chased home Zack Cozart to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead in the sixth.
Jason Giambi came off the bench to launch a pinch-hit homer to center with one out in the eighth to tie the game at 2.
Choo and Cozart finished with two hits apiece for the Reds. Cincinnati starter Mike Leake gave up two runs (one earned) on five hits with seven strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Jimenez struck out six in seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits with four walks. ... Cleveland closer Chris Perez was placed on the disabled list with right shoulder soreness before the game while Hagadone was promoted from Triple-A Columbus in a corresponding move. … The Reds improved to 17-6 in May and have not lost consecutive games since April 30-May 1.