Semien, Smolinski 2-run homers send A's past Reds
CINCINNATI -- Marcus Semien and Jake Smolinski each a hit two-run homer to help the Oakland Athletics avoid the sweep with a 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the finale of a three-game interleague series Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
Danny Valencia added a solo homer in the eighth, his 10th of the season, for Oakland (26-36), which collected 15 hits to snap a seven-game losing streak.
Fernando Rodriguez (2-0) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the victory.
Despite Sunday's loss, Cincinnati finished the homestand 5-4 and has won seven of 11 games since snapping an 11-game losing streak on May 28.
Coming off a couple solid starts in which he pitched seven-plus innings, Reds starter John Lamb experienced a setback on Sunday.
The A's had four consecutive hits to begin the second inning, including two-run homers by Semien and Smolinski putting them ahead 4-0.
It was Semien's 12th homer of the season and only the second by Smolinski.
Billy Butler went 3-for-3 with a double and scored a run for the A's.
Oakland had chance to extend its lead in the third, but Semien hit a hard liner to third baseman Eugenio Suarez who threw to second doubling off Khris Davis to end the inning.
Davis went 2-for-5 with an RBI single in the ninth for Oakland.
Lamb (1-4) allowed four earned runs and seven hits in four innings.
Oakland starter Kendall Graveman pitched out of a base-loaded jam in the fourth, getting Zack Cozart to ground out to end the inning.
The A's right-hander had a short lease on Sunday, however, leaving in the fourth inning with a 4-1 lead after allowing a run on seven hits. He threw 76 pitches.
Graveman is unbeaten in four starts since having a five-game losing streak.
The Reds (24-39) hit into three inning-ending double plays on Sunday.
Valencia's solo homer on a 2-2 pitch from A.J. Morris made the score 5-1 in the eighth. It was his fourth homer in 10 games.
The Athletics' bullpen slammed the door on Cincinnati, allowing only a hit over the final four innings and retiring the final 10 batters.
NOTES: Oakland expects to recall LHP Eric Surkamp from Triple-A Nashville to start on Tuesday vs. Texas. ... Reds CF Steve Selsky made his first career start on Sunday. ... Oakland LF Khris Davis, who didn't start on Saturday due to a sore left elbow after being hit by a pitch in Friday's game, was back in the lineup on Sunday. ... Cincinnati is 7-4 in June, second-best mark in the National League. ... Oakland's victory on Sunday avoided an eight-game losing streak which would have been its longest since 2012.