Cozart breaks out of hitless rut with RBI

ST. LOUIS -- Reds shortstop Zack Cozart isn't off to a good start, but the worst hitless streak of his career is at least over.

With the bases loaded in the top of the ninth inning, Cozart hit an RBI single to center field off of Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal. It snapped an 0-for-22 skid, including an 0-for-3 day to that point, but the Reds still fell short in a 5-3 loss. He entered the day with the most at-bats in the Majors without a hit in this young season.

Cozart's previous longest hitless streak was 0-for-20, which he did from Aug. 24-29, 2012.

"You look around the league and see a lot of good hitters that are hitting .200, under .100 or still looking for their first hit," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I don't have any lack of confidence in his ability to hit. I talked to him the other day and let him know to, 'Keep doing your thing, keep taking your at-bats and doing your work.' He's our shortstop. He's going to play."

Cozart's hitless streak to start a season was the longest for the Reds since Corky Miller's 0-for-29 stretch in 2004. Miller didn't get his first hit that season until Sept. 11, but his streak was spread over four separate callups.

"Of course, everybody wants to get out there and do better," Price said. "Offensively, we haven't gotten into full gear yet. I just don't want him to get exasperated through any self-induced pressures. There is enough pressure in this game to begin with."