Josh VanMeter and Eugenio Suarez backed Anthony DeSclafani with home runs as the Reds evened the series with a 3-1 win. It was the sixth win for DeSclafani and fourth in his last six decisions.
VanMeter homered off Chi Chi González, his fourth of the season to start the scoring. On July 20 he hit his first home run. Less than a week later he has four and one each in his last three appearances and he has improved his average to .313.
"VanMeter has done a lot to contribute. He is making the most of his opportunities. Especially, over the last week or so," David Bell said.
The kid from Ossian, Indiana is locked in.
"When you get a pitch to hit, you can't miss it," VanMeter said. "He got his sinker up a little and I was able to get it in the air. When I'm locked in I feel like I can hit anyone. Home runs come in bunches."
Sáurez hit his 28th with a man on in the third. It was an upper deck job that put him within six of his career high set last year.
"Suarez is hot but he's also been consistent. He is a leader in so many ways. He has quietly done his job," Bell said.
DeSclafani held the powerful Rockies hitless for three innings before Trevor Story led off the fourth with an infield single. Story went to second on a balk. He advanced to third on a fly out to deep center field. Nolan Arenado flied out to left to send Story home with the run.
DeSclafani recorded his 500th career strikeout, getting Story swinging to end the fifth.
"DeSclafani is on a bit of a run, now," Bell said. "We wanted to preserve the lead and Wandy was ready. He not only stranded the runners he saved us from having to use Amir. At that part of the game with a hitter like Murphy, facing Desco for the third time, there was an advantage in having a lefty coming in there."
DeSclafani had to grind through his five innings and was happy for help getting out of a sixth inning jam.
"I felt out of sync tonight," DeSclafani said. "I made pitches when I had to but I just didn't feel right. Wandy did a great job and that could have been a turning point."
Wandy Peralta relieved DeSclafani in the sixth inning. David Dahl and Arenado opened the inning with singles but Peralta got t"DeSclafani is on a bit of a run, now. We wanted to preserve the lead and Wandy was ready. He not only stranded the runners he saved us from having to use Amir. At that part of the game with a hitter like Murphy, facing Desco for the third time, there was an advantage in having a lefty coming in there."
Peralta got three quick outs to end the threat.
"I wanted to keep the ball down and get a double play," Peralta said on his 28th birthday. "It didn't work out that way but I was happy to keep the runners from scoring. Desco was doing a great job and I wanted to focus on getting keeping them from scoring.
Raimel Tapia hit a pinch hit double off Michael Lorenzen that hit off the glove of Jesse Winker in left field. Tapia was erased as Winker picked off a line drive by Charlie Blackmon and threw to second to retire Tapia who was rounding third, either thinking there were two outs in the inning or that it was going to fall for a hit.
"He misread the ball and thought it was a hit," Colorado manager Bud Black said.
Lorenzen pitched 1-2/3 innings of scoreless relief to turn the two-run lead over to Raisel Iglesias.
Iglesias picked up his 18th save in 21 tries with a perfect ninth
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