Bruce robs Stanton of homer with sensational grab

CINCINNATI -- When Giancarlo Stanton puts a good swing on a ball, its final destination is almost certain.

Thanks to Jay Bruce, a blast off the bat of the Marlins slugger on Sunday provided a rare exception.

The Reds right fielder robbed Stanton of his 30th home run of the season when he leaped to pull the ball back from beyond the right-field wall in the eighth inning at Great American Ball Park. The spectacular catch helped preserve the Reds' 7-2 victory.

"He's such a great hitter, I almost hated to do it to him," Bruce said of Stanton, who hit homer No. 29 earlier in the game. "He's so strong that even if he doesn't get them all the way, he sometimes clips them out."

Reds ace Johnny Cueto was working his eighth and final inning when Stanton sent a high fly ball in Bruce's direction.

"At its apex, [the ball] lost a little steam and hung up there just enough," Bruce said.

Bruce timed his jump well, putting his glove in front of the ball as it traveled over the top of the wall. He then swung his glove hand quickly downward and into his body. A powerful hit instead became the first out of the inning.

"Off the bat, I really thought the ball was out," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "As it got there, it stagnated a little bit."

Bruce was glad to lend a helping hand to a team that has been trying to hang tough in the National League Central race despite some offensive stagnation since the All-Star break.

"Lately, we've been wasting some pretty good pitching," Bruce said. "Today was different."