Edinson Volquez gave up a season-high seven runs in his
first rough night of the season as the Reds fell by a 7-1 score to the Blue Jays
on Thursday at Rogers Centre to drop two of three in the series.
Volquez pitched a season-low 4 1/3 innings, and five of
his seven runs were earned on six hits and three walks. He did not record a
strikeout.
After Volquez issued a leadoff walk to Matt Stairs in
the second inning, Scott Rolen smoked a two-run home run into the left-field
seats for a 2-0 Toronto lead.
Command got away from Volquez in the third. After
leadoff batter Marco Scutaro was hit by a 2-2 pitch, Joe Inglett walked. Alex
Rios bounced a routine grounder to the mound, but Volquez's high throw to second
base pulled Jerry Hairston Jr. off the bag. All runners were ruled safe, and the
bases were loaded.
Another run crossed on Vernon Wells' fielder's-choice
play. With two outs, Lyle Overbay hit a two-run single to right field for a 5-0
Blue Jays advantage.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati's lineup could muster little
against Toronto starter Jesse Litsch. The right-hander allowed one run and three
hits over eight innings. In the fourth, Adam Dunn hit a one-out double to right
field and advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Dunn scored on Brandon
Phillips' sacrifice fly.
Volquez faced only four batters in the fifth inning and
gave up three doubles, including RBI two-base hits to Wells and Rolen, before
being pulled.
