The Cincinnati Reds scored big early then held on for a 5-4 win against the host Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.
The Reds sent 10 batters to the plate in a five-run second inning, highlighted by three stolen bases. Cincinnati has stolen 26 bases in 28 attempts this month.
Elly De La Cruz sparked the rally, walking to lead off the inning, then stealing second and advancing to third on an error before scoring on Spencer Steer’s single to left field.
Kevin Newman’s RBI double put the Reds ahead to stay. Stuart Fairchild and TJ Friedl added RBI hits, building a 5-1 lead.
Jordan Lyles (0-11) threw 37 pitches in the inning, walking three. He retired the final 13 batters to finish six innings, allowing five runs on five hits and striking out four. Lyles’ 11 straight losses are a career high.
Brandon Williamson’s first-inning throwing error led to the Royals’ first run. Kansas City added a second-inning tally on Matt Duffy’s RBI double off the center-field wall.
In the third, Bobby Witt Jr.’s 11th homer, a two-run shot to left, cut the deficit to 5-4.
Williamson (1-0) completed five innings for his first major league victory, allowing four runs – three earned – on seven hits and striking out one.
Four Reds relievers worked four scoreless innings, with Lucas Sims working out of a one-out, bases-load jam in the seventh by striking out Nick Pratto and Salvador Perez.
Alexis Diaz converted his 16th save in as many chances.
Cincinnati recorded its National League-best 22nd come-from-behind win. The Reds have won four straight and seven of nine.
The Reds have won four of five series and will go for the sweep in the series finale on Wednesday.
The slumping Royals have dropped eight straight and 11 of 12. They have lost seven of eight series, splitting one, since last winning a series at San Diego, May 15-17.
— Field Level Media
