Cincinnati, OH – Brandon Phillips' solo homer in the seventh lifted the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-6 win over the San Diego Padres in the second installment of a four-game series at Great American Ballpark.
Ryan Ludwick was 2-for-3 with a homer and four RBI and Todd Frazier hit a two- run homer for the Reds, winners in 11 of their last 12.
"I don't try to push myself harder, but I think we all knew having (Reds injured first baseman Joey Votto) out of the lineup is a huge loss," Ludwick said. "Everyone is picking each other up, and each night it's some one new."
Sean Marshall (4-3) earned the win after tossing a perfect seventh and eighth. Homer Bailey started for the Reds but lasted just 3 2/3 innings. He gave up six runs on nine hits and struck out two.
Aroldis Chapman tossed a perfect ninth to pick up his 22nd save of the season.
Cameron Maybin hit a three-run homer while Alexi Amarista and Will Venable each tripled and knocked in a run for the Padres, losers in three of four.
Jason Marquis (4-6) was pegged with the loss after giving up all seven runs on eight hits while striking out five, snapping a three-start winning streak.
The Reds went up 1-0 in the first. Chris Heisey doubled, moved to second on Wilson Valdez's groundout then scored when Ludwick singled to center.
Cincinnati scored five in the third to go up 6-0. Phillips reached on a fielder's choice and Jay Bruce singled before Ludwick ripped a three-run homer, his 18th of the year. Scott Rolen followed Ludwick with a single before Frazier clobbered a two-run blast to left.
But the Padres answered with six in the fourth to tie the game at 6-6. Yonder Alonso and Jeff Baker singled to set the table for Maybin who cracked a three-run homer to left-center. Marquis beat out an infield single then scored when Amarista tripled to right. Venable followed with a triple to right to plate Amarista before scoring on Chase Headley's base hit to right.
Phillips' solo shot in the seventh put the Reds back on top 7-6. He left the game in the eighth with a mild strain in his left calf. He also left Sunday's game in Colorado with a cramp in the same calf.
"We did a great job of battling back. I put them in a big hole early on and they just kept battling," said Marquis. "Unfortunately I couldn't hold it for them later in the game."
Game Notes
The Reds acquired reliever Jonathan Broxton from the Royals for minor leaguers Donnie Joseph and J.C. Sulbaran earlier on Tuesday...Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco left in the sixth with dizziness...36 of Chapman's last 49 outs recorded were strikeouts...The Padres are 17-13 all-time at Great American Ballpark.
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