A tightly pitched game between the Rockies and Reds was determined by two ongoing trends. Cincinnati’s bullpen can’t escape its rut and Trevor Story’s power can’t be contained for long. It was Story’s eighth-inning home run that gave Colorado a boost toward a 5-1 victory on Monday — its fifth win over the last six games.
Reds reliever Ross Ohlendorf, who was coming off a loss at St. Louis on Sunday when he allowed an eighth-inning run that also snapped a tie game, was cruising with five in a row retired and three strikeouts after taking over in the seventh inning. There were two outs on two K’s in the eighth when Story ripped a first-pitch fastball to center field for a no-doubt homer, his eighth of the young season. He set a Major League record for fewest games (13) with eight career home runs.
“We’ve been using the bullpen a lot. We needed somebody to pick up multiple innings there,” Reds manager Bryan Price said of Ohlendorf. “I wanted to get him back in the game after yesterday. He gave up a walk and a double, comes in and throws a beautiful first [part of the] inning, two outs. He just wasn’t able to finish off the eighth. He’s got the type of stuff that can help us.”
“That was a beautiful piece of hitting — to hit that ball where he did, to hit it out of the park, that’s tough to do,” Rockies manager Walt Weiss said of Story. “That’s a perfect swing, pretty much.”
Ohlendorf followed Story by allowing a single up the middle and a walk before he was replaced. Jumbo Diaz’s first batter, Ben Paulsen, crushed his first homer of the season — a three-run shot to center field on a 1-0 changeup that blew the game open. It was Diaz’s third homer allowed in eight appearances.
Rockies starter Jordan Lyles gave up one unearned run and four hits over seven innings while throwing 76 pitches to earn the victory. Lyles, who hadn’t yet completed five innings entering, had one intentional walk and struck out four. The Reds, who have dropped six of their last seven games, have the second-highest bullpen ERA in the National League behind only Colorado.
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