DeSclafani helps Reds avert sweep versus Padres
CINCINNATI -- Anthony DeSclafani pitched eight shutout innings and Jay Bruce homered as the Cincinnati Reds avoided the sweep with a 3-0 victory over the San Diego Padres in the finale of a four-game series Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
DeSclafani allowed just five hits to help the Reds avoid their first-ever four-game sweep at the hands of the Padres. It was the first shutout this season for Cincinnati, the last National League team to record one.
It was DeSclafani's fourth start since coming off the disabled list with an oblique injury suffered late in spring training. Prior to that, the 26-year old right-hander was expected to be the Reds' Opening Day starter.
DeSclafani (2-0) had five strikeouts, no walks, and one hit batter on Sunday.
It was a nightmarish afternoon on the basepaths for San Diego.
Each of the first two innings for the Padres ended with a caught stealing.
Yangervis Solarte singled leading off the fifth, but he was picked off first moments later by DeSclafani.
Cincinnati snapped a 16-inning scoreless streak in the second when Jose Peraza reached on an infield single and scored on Tucker Barnhart's double to put the Reds ahead 1-0.
The Reds led 2-0 after Bruce belted the first pitch from Luis Perdomo for a solo homer leading off the fourth. It was Bruce's 17th homer this season.
Bruce nearly had another in the sixth, but it was caught in center just shy of the 404-foot sign.
Later in the inning, DeSclafani snapped an 0-for-48 skid at the plate for Reds pitchers when he lined a RBI single to center to make the score 3-0.
Perdomo (2-3) allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings.
DeSclafani rolled into the seventh with only 81 pitches and four hits allowed, then joined Dan Straily and John Lamb as the only Reds starters to toss seven innings in consecutive starts.
San Diego did not have a runner advance past first base on Sunday.
Left-hander Tony Cingrani notched his ninth save.
NOTES: Jose Peraza started in center field for the Reds on Sunday. Manager Bryan Price is trying to find playing time for Peraza who is a second baseman by trade. ... The Reds retired Pete Rose's uniform No. 14 during a pregame ceremony as part of weekend-long festivities as part of baseball's all-time hits leader being inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame. ... Per Elias, Padres LHP Drew Pomeranz on Saturday became one of only three San Diego pitchers to collect at least two hits, including a home run, without allowing a run on the mound, joining Joey Hamilton in 1996 and Mat Latos in 2010.