8-run inning propels Rockies past Reds

CINCINNATI -- The Rockies kept on going strong while the Reds continued to sink on Friday at Great American Ball Park. Colorado used an eight-run sixth inning to turn a close game into a 12-6 rout of Cincinnati. Alexi Amarista tied a career high with four RBIs -- all of them in the sixth.
The Rockies had a 2-1 lead heading into their big inning when Reds starter Lisalverto Bonilla -- who was hit on his right hand by a pitch in the fifth while trying to bunt -- came apart. Bonilla allowed a single and double to start the inning before Amarista lifted a three-run homer.
Wandy Peralta took over, and despite entering the game with a 1.06 ERA, he did not put out the fire. Peralta gave up a career-high five hits and four runs -- including a two-run homer by Nolan Arenado. Fourteen Rockies hitters batted in the pivotal inning.
"We've talked about stringing at-bats together and doing that sort of thing, which we did. We're capable of that," Rockies manager Bud Black said. "We have good at-bats, we square balls up and we put a big number on the board, which was really good to see. There were some good at-bats."
The loss extended the Reds' season-high losing streak to seven games while the first-place Rockies won for the fourth time in five games and nine in the last 13.
Although he has struggled on the road over his brief career, Rockies lefty Tyler Anderson turned in a nice performance with two earned runs and four hits allowed over six innings. Anderson, who entered the game with a 1-6 record and a 5.79 ERA in 11 career starts on the road, walked two and struck out seven.

"This was a good one," Black said. "With Tyler, we saw good fastball life, good change. We talked about the slider being effective. It was. He did a nice job of mixing his conventional delivery, with the leg kick, and also the quick step. What some guys are doing now, you're seeing from a number of pitchers -- the quicker delivery out of the windup. That produced some foul balls, that produced some takes for called strikes. He pitched. That's what I like. He pitched. His last three games counting this one have been really solid."
Cincinnati scored two runs in the seventh and two more in the eighth -- on a José Peraza two-run homer -- against reliever Jordan Lyles.

"And we kept coming back and kept coming back," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I mean, if Peraza doesn't hit a homer, Scooter Gennett's throwing tonight. But he did. And they respect the game and the opportunity to come back in a four-run game."
On the heels of a complete-game loss at San Francisco in his first start in three seasons, Bonilla was charged with six earned runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Early lead: The first four Rockies batters reached safely in the top of the first inning, with a bloop RBI single into right field by Mark Reynolds with the bases loaded scoring the first run. Carlos González added a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 Colorado lead. The struggling Reds have been outscored, 21-3, in the first inning over their last 10 games. 

Amarista's towering homer: When Amarista got a hold of Bonilla's 2-1 pitch in the top of the sixth, he lifted it high in the sky and saw it clear the right-field fence for his three-run homer. According to Statcast™, the ball had a 40-degree launch angle and an exit velocity of 97 mph. Put it all together and he had a nine-percent hit probability on that play.

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
During the bottom of the seventh, Billy Hamilton hit a double down the left-field line that scored Scooter Gennett. Hamilton went to third base on the cut-off throw and scored when Amarista's throw to the plate got away for an error. Hamilton, who has reached safely in a career-high 19 consecutive games, rounded the bases in 15.63 seconds according to Statcast™. It was the fastest home-to-home time by a Reds player since Statcast™ began in 2015. Hamilton's fastest (on a regular homer) was 16.2 seconds. The Statcast™ record is 14.05 seconds by the Twins' Byron Buxton on an inside-the-park HR.

WHAT'S NEXT
Rockies: In a 2:10 p.m. MT first pitch on Saturday, the Rockies will send out rookie right-hander Antonio Senzatela (6-1, 3.31) for the second game of the three-game series. Senzatela entered Friday second in the National League in wins and 10th in ERA.
Reds:Tim Adleman will be asked to help the Reds stop their losing streak when he takes the mound in the 4:10 p.m. ET game. Adleman was forced out of his last start on Sunday vs. the Giants after one inning because of a stiff neck. He was cleared to pitch after a successful side throwing session and treatment.
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