Cron's 2 homers pace Angels in win vs. Reds
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- C.J. Cron hit two home runs and drove in three runs to lead the Los Angeles Angels to a 4-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night in front of 33,042 at Angel Stadium.
Cron hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the first inning and added a solo drive in the third to increase his season total to 14. Mike Trout and Andrelton Simmons added three hits apiece for the Angels, who have won six of their last seven games.
Right-hander Jered Weaver earned his second consecutive win. Weaver (10-11) allowed two runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings, issued no walks and collected five strikeouts.
The Reds' Jose Peraza returned to the lineup after being hit in the face with a pickoff throw Monday night and tied his career high with four hits. Eugenio Suarez added his 20th home run. But right-hander Dan Adleman (2-2) suffered the loss.
Cincinnati, which trailed 3-0 after three innings, narrowed its deficit to 3-2 in the top of the seventh. Scott Schebler doubled down the left-field line with one out, then Eugenio Suarez sent Weaver's 77 mph change-up into the Reds' bullpen in left field for his 20th home run this year.
In the top of the eighth, the Reds put the potential tying and lead runs on base with two out when Adam Duvall and Brandon Phillips hit successive singles up the middle. But reliever J.C. Ramirez struck out Billy Hamilton on an 87 mph change-up to defuse the threat.
Los Angeles responded in the bottom of the eighth by increasing the lead to 4-2. Mike Trout began the rally by lining a double off the right-field scoreboard. Trout took third base on Albert Pujols' single to right, then came home one out later on Simmons' single.
But the Reds were not finished. Peraza hit a one-out double in the ninth, then Hamilton had a chance to score Peraza with two out. However, Hamilton's ground ball down the left-field line off reliever Fernando Salas' first pitch was ruled barely foul.
Hamilton eventually walked but Salas made Zack Cozart pop out to register his sixth save.
The Angels used C.J. Cron's second home run in as many games to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning. With Trout at first base following a single, Cron hit a 92 mph fastball from right-hander Tim Adleman into the cypress trees behind the center-field fence for his 13th homer of the season.
In the third, Cron extended Los Angeles' lead to 3-0 when he propelled Adleman's 91 mph fastball into the first row of the right-field bleachers for his 14th homer this year.
NOTES: Cincinnati SS Jose Peraza returned to the lineup after being hit in the face by a pickoff throw from Angels RHP Matt Shoemaker in the third inning Monday night. ... Reds 1B Joey Votto is trying to become the first player in team history since 1900 to hit at least .400 in two successive months. Votto entered Tuesday night's game batting .396 for August after hitting .419 in July. ... Los Angeles 3B Yunel Escobar was cleared to begin baseball activities Monday. Escobar went on the seven-day disabled list for concussions Aug. 20. ... Angels RHP Garrett Richards (elbow) extended his throwing distance on flat ground to 105 feet and reported no ill effects Monday. ... The Angels traded OF Daniel Nava and cash to the Kansas City Royals on Monday for a player to be named or cash.