Bruce blast lifts Reds to victory
CINCINNATI -- Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer and Keyvius Sampson pitched well in a spot start, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on a steamy Saturday night at Great American Ball Park.
Prior to Saturday's game, Arizona manager Chip Hale promised retribution after Jean Segura was hit by a pitch following his leadoff homer the night before.
In the first inning, Diamondbacks starter Robbie Ray threw a breaking ball over Joey Votto's head. Intent wasn't clear and no batters were hit Saturday.
Bruce went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs. He nearly had another homer in the fifth but a replay review confirmed the umpire's ruling that the ball struck the top of the wall before caroming back into play.
Michael Lorenzen (1-0) was awarded the victory after pitching 2 2/3 perfect innings with two strikeouts.
Ray (5-9) took the loss for Arizona despite a career-high 10 strikeouts. He allowed six runs (three earned) in five innings. He only walked one batter over 105 pitches.
The Diamondbacks were held to four hits in losing their fourth straight game and 17th in the last 21 contests.
Cincinnati improved to 6-2 since the All-Star break.
For the second straight night, Segura jumpstarted a rally in the first inning when he singled and later scored on Chris Owings' single to put Arizona ahead 1-0.
But Cincinnati took the lead in the bottom half when, with runners on second and third, third baseman Jake Lamb's throwing error on Adam Duvall's grounder allowed two runs to score.
Brandon Phillips' double to right drove home Duvall to make the score 3-1.
Ray needed 34 pitches to get through the first inning.
After striking out the side in the second, Ray got pounded in the third when Bruce followed back-to-back singles with his 20th homer of the season, making the score 6-1.
Sampson allowied a run and four hits in 4 1/3 innings. He left Saturday's game with a 1-0 count on Michael Bourn in the fifth inning.
Michael Lorenzen relieved Sampson and was credited with a strikeout of Bourn.
Ray had a career-high 10 strikeouts through five innings on Saturday.
NOTES: The Diamondbacks reinstated SS Chris Owings (foot) from the 15-day disabled list and placed INF Nick Ahmed on the 15-day DL because of a right hip impingement. ... Owings started at shortstop and batted fifth. ... Reds RHP Tim Adleman made his third rehab start Thursday for Triple-A Louisville. Adleman could be needed to make a start for Cincinnati depending on how RHP Homer Bailey comes through his sixth rehab outing Monday.