Rollins Hits 3-Run Homer As Phillies Beat Reds 4-2
CINCINNATI (AP) — Jimmy Rollins hit a three-run homer off Johnny Cueto during a cloudburst that sent fans scurrying for cover on Monday, leading the Philadelphia Phillies to a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.
John Mayberry Jr. added a solo homer off Cueto (17-7), who failed in his attempt to become the majors' first 18-game winner. Cueto also lost a day game for the first time this season — he'd been 11-0 in 13 afternoon starts.
Rollins' 17th homer made it 3-1 in the fifth inning, when Cueto had trouble keeping his cleats clean on the muddy mound. It was Rollins' 1,999th career hit.
Rookie right-hander Tyler Cloyd (1-1) got his first major league hit and win. He singled ahead of Rollins' homer to extend the inning. The 25-year-old pitcher gave up four hits, including Jay Bruce's 30th homer, and struck out nine in seven innings.
Jonathan Papelbon warmed up before the ninth, only a few hours after he gave up a three-run homer to Chipper Jones that sent the Braves to an 8-7 win in Atlanta. Instead of the Phillies closer, right-hander Phillippe Aumont came on to start the inning and gave up Bruce's two-out, RBI single while getting his first major league save.
The Reds returned from a 5-1 road trip that gave them control of the NL Central. The next chore was to move Cueto one win closer to 20 victories, a mark no Cincinnati pitcher has reached since Danny Jackson in 1988.
Cueto allowed only a pair of singles through the first four innings. Steven Lerud and Cloyd had two-out singles in the fifth, when the remnant of Hurricane Isaac brought a short burst of rain. Cueto walked around the infield, trying to clear the mud from his cleats between batters.
Rollins hit the first pitch into the right field stands, ending Cueto's streak of no more than two runs allowed in any of his last four starts. The grounds crew came out and spread a drying material around the mound.
Mayberry extended his hitting streak to five games with his 14th homer an inning later. It was only the second time this season that Cueto gave up two homers in a game, and only the fifth time in 28 starts that he allowed four or more runs.
Cloyd gave up Bruce's homer in the second inning, then allowed only one other runner to reach second base. Cloyd has taken the rotation spot of Vance Worley, out for the rest of the season with an elbow injury.
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