The Arizona Diamondbacks completed the sweep of the Reds with a 5-4 decision, sending the home team to its eighth straight loss and an 0-6 home stand.
Joc Pederson, who had three hits, belted his fourth home run of the season in the first inning. Pederson was a candidate in the home run hitting contest at the 2015 All-Star game in Cincinnati. He hit 26 home runs in his rookie season.
Hunter Greene got the first two outs before Pederson connected. It was the first run Greene has allowed in three starts, covering 12 2/3 innings.
Diamondback starter Slade Cecconi didn't allow the Reds' first hit until Elly De La Cruz broke an 0-for-16 slump with a single in the fourth inning.
Jeimer Candelario's fourth home run of the season tied the game in the fifth inning. Will Benson nearly hit one out but it hit off the top of the right center field wall for his 10th double of the year. Cecconi got out of the inning with a tie.
Pederson led off the sixth inning with a single. Christian Walker took a base on balls from Greene. David Bell brought in Nick Martinez. Luis Gurriel Jr. doubled to score Pederson. Walker scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Eugenio Suarez.
Greene was left with the game tied at 1-1 but pitched five innings, allowing three runs on four hits. He walked five and struck out six.
In five of Greene's eight starts, the Reds have scored two or fewer runs in five of them, two in which they were shut out.
"It was a sluggish day. I was just trying to grind through it and keep the team in the game," Greene said. "I was trying to be as effective as possible. I was trying to wake up. I didn't have to pop smelling salts in a while but I popped a couple of those. I was trying to wake up. Everybody goes through it sometime in our career. We know our bodies so well but sometimes we over think. Fighting off that negativity and not let negative thoughts creep in."
Singles by Candelario, TJ Friedl and De La Cruz cut the lead to two off Logan Allen in the seventh. Arizona brought Ryan Thompson into the game. De La Cruz stole second. Spencer Steer fell behind 0-2 but singled to tie the game.
With two outs in the eighth, Fernando Cruz walked Tucker Barnhart and pinch hitter Pavin Smith. Reigning Rookie of the Year Corbin Carroll delivered the go-ahead run with a single to score Barnhart.
Paul Sewald returning from a oblique injury earned his first save, striking out two.
The Reds have improved at the plate the last two games but have fallen one-run short.
"We fell short today. We talk about in here (with the press) but we don't talk a lot about in the clubhouse. We don't want it to pile up. I see signs that it is getting better," Bell said.
Thank you!
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