Reds Slip Back Into a Tie For First Place

Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said this before the game, "The pattern of this series is whoever scores first wins."  He was prophetic.

The Reds 7-1 loss was determined in the first three innings.

Outfielder Jason Kubel hit two home runs, his 16th and 17th, to power the Diamondbacks over Mat Latos.

Aaron Hill singled before Kubel hit his first blast to straightaway centerfield in the first inning.  He added a 429 ft. blast in the third inning.

"When you put the ball right down the middle of the plate, it doesn't matter what kind of hitter he is, he's going to hit it," Latos said.

The Reds scored one run but squandered chances to score more early in the game to help Ian Kennedy, who had been struggling,  get comfortable.

Kennedy allowed a total of 10 runs in his last two starts.

Drew Stubbs hitting leadoff for the third straight day doubled to start the Reds on the road back.  Zack Cozart popped up a bunt and Stubbs was stuck at second.  Brandon Phillips hit an infield single but Jay Bruce and Ryan Ludwick popped up.

Another botched sacrifice attempt in the second inning stunted a Reds' rally.

Todd Frazier and Ryan Hanigan hit singles with one out.  Latos bunted right back to Kennedy who threw Frazier out at third.  Stubbs singled to drive in the run but it was just one run instead of the two the Reds needed.

"Ian Kennedy came in struggling," Dusty Baker said.  "I we get on him early he starts to think, 'here I go again'.  When he got out of those situations he settled down and got some run support.  Getting sacrifices down are the things we need to do to play winning baseball.  We have to do more of that with Joey out.  We work on it every day but we're thinking about it.  We need to be able to do it without thinking about it."

The Diamondbacks added on to complete the rout.

Aaron Hill hit a two out double and Latos eventually walked in a fifth run.

"The back breaker was the pitch to Hill.  It was inside where I wanted it but he's a good hitter," Latos said.

The Reds wasted two-out doubles by Ludwick in the fifth and Latos in the sixth.  Frazier also hit a single with two outs in the sixth but Kennedy held onto the lead.

Pittsburgh defeated Colorado in Denver 9-6 this afternoon to forge another tie at the top of the Central Division.  St. Louis lost to Milwaukee to stay 4-1/2 back.

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