After a nightmare road trip that saw the Reds get shut out twice and lose six of eight, manager Dusty Baker’s team needed some sort of spark.
On a rain-soaked Monday night at Great American Ball Park, that spark was Todd Frazier, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBIs in an 8-1 win over the Giants that was called after six innings because of weather.
While Frazier led the way, it was a productive night for the entire Cincinnati offense, which hadn’t scored more than five runs at home since an 8-2 win over Cleveland on May 28.
“I think we were more aggressive tonight,” Baker said. “We weren’t getting deep in the count; we were attacking the first pitch. Sometimes that’s what it takes. If you don’t know what else to do, go on the attack.”
Cincinnati used big innings in the second and third, along with a strong bounce-back performance from starter Bronson Arroyo, to earn the much-needed win after dropping seven of its previous 10 games.
After a scoreless first, the bottom of the second inning opened with three straight hits by the Reds, including an RBI single by Frazier. Zack Cozart drove in a second run with a sacrifice fly before Arroyo moved Frazier and Ryan Hanigan to second and third on a bunt. That set up Derrick Robinson’s two-run double, which gave Cincinnati a 4-0 lead after two.
In the third inning, Frazier struck again, connecting on a three-run blast after Joey Votto and Jay Bruce both singled. It was Frazier’s 10th home run of the season and his first since June 17 against the Pirates.
Frazier entered Monday coming off a 3-for-24 road trip that was part of a 12-for-67 slump. After driving in just six runs in June, Frazier’s four RBIs in the first game of July matched a career high.
As a team, Cincinnati collected 11 hits and left just four runners on base.
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