CINCINNATI (AP) — Joey Votto hit a two-run, go-ahead homer, Nick Castellanos also connected and the Cincinnati Reds beat Cleveland 3-2 Monday night as the Indians played again without ill manager Terry Francona.
Sonny Gray shook off a tough start to the game to complete six strong innings, and Cincinnati ended a six-game home losing streak against their in-state rival.
Votto snapped an 0-for-11 skid when he followed Shogo Akiyama’s leadoff single in the sixth with a no-doubt shot off Zach Plesac (0-1). The 2010 NL MVP sat out a doubleheader Sunday after self-reporting coronavirus symptoms, but he was cleared to return to the lineup Monday and hit his third homer following a negative test.
“Yesterday was fun,” Votto said. “I came back to Cincinnati, was able to watch the game, was able to cheer on the team, and unfortunately I wasn’t able to be out there. … Just glad to be part of a win today.”
Votto followed Shogo Akiyama’s sixth-inning leadoff single by snapping an 0-for-11 slump with a no-doubt shot into the field seats off Zach Plesac (0-1), giving him three homers.
Vottos homer came on a full count after Plesac made six pickoff attempts.
“He lost a little concentration,” acting manager Sandy Alomar said. “He got a little pick happy. It happens sometimes. He’s got to focus more on the hitter. He did a pretty good job. If we score some runs, it’s a perfect outing.””
Votto relished the chance turn the game around for Gray.
“He competes,” Votto said. “He wants to win. He wants to be part of a winning team. I love playing behind him. I love playing besides him. He’s a very easy guy to play hard and want to do well with.”
Grounds crew seated behind first base cheered and played instruments — some provided by Votto — as he rounded the bases, and Votto pointed to the fan section after touching home plate.
Francona missed his second straight game and the first of four straight Reds-Indians games while dealing in Cleveland with a gastrointestinal condition not believed to be connected to COVID-19. First base and catching Alomar managed in Francona’s absence.
The series shifts on Wednesday to Cleveland for the final two games.
The Indians led 2-0 after two innings, scoring as many runs off Gray as they scored while losing three straight over the weekend in Minnesota.
Gray (3-0) gave up two hits in the first inning, including Francisco Lindor’s third home run of the season, a two-out line drive into the right field seats for a 1-0 lead.
Gray’s control problems led to Cleveland’s second-inning run. Oscar Mercado singled softly to center field, advanced to second on Gray’s errant pickoff throw and came around to score on two wild pitches.
“I was so upset with myself,” Gray said. “I came out with the wrong kind of energy. I told the guys pick me up, pick me up, pick me up. That was a team win, man. I’m so proud of those guys.”
Gray retired 12 straight batters before Lindor singled with one out in the fifth. He allowed four hits and two runs, one earned, with two walks and eight strikeouts.
“In starts like that when you’re not really on and battle through, it shows toughness,” Reds manager David Bell said.
Michael Lorenzen pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, Nate Jones struck out Lindor with two outs and the tying run at third in the eighth, and Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth for the Reds’ first 2020 save.
Plesac extended his shutout streak to 11 innings over two starts this season before Castellanos lined a shot into the left-center seats for his fifth homer leading off the fourth inning. Plesac allowed four hits and three runs with one walk and six strikeouts in seven innings.
MOVING UP
Votto’s homer was the 287th of his career, tying Hall-of-Famer Tony Perez for third on the teams’ career home runs list.
WET TREND
The start of the game was delayed 2 hours, 2 minutes by rain, the Reds’ third straight date and fifth in the last eight to be impacted by weather.
CUTOUT CREW
The Reds unveiled cutout photo of fans placed in the seats behind the dugouts and plate. Fans paid $75 to the team’s charity and submitted photos the team made into cutouts.
TRAINING ROOM
Indians: C Roberto Pérez (right shoulder strain) will be re-examined Tuesday … OF Delino Deshields (unavailable) and OF Tyler Naquin (hairline fracture of right big toe) had scheduled game activity at Cleveland’s alternate training site rained out Monday. They’ll try again Tuesday.
Reds: CF Nick Senzel was scratched from the original starting lineup with a sprained left ring finger. He was hurt sliding into second base on Sunday in Detroit. … The Reds optioned OF Aristides Aquino to their alternate training site.
UP NEXT
Indians: RHP Shane Bieber (2-0) has piled up a combined 14 scoreless innings over his first two 2020 starts, striking out 27.
Reds: RHP Tyler Mahle starts on Tuesday in place of LHP Wade Miley, who went on the 10-day injured list on Friday with a left groin injury.