Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Rene Rivera and Yonder Alonso both homered and drove in two runs to back a solid start from Tyson Ross, as the San Diego Padres secured a split of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds with a 6-1 win in Thursday's nightcap from Great American Ball Park.
Johnny Cueto spun a three-hit shutout to lead Cincinnati to a 5-0 victory in the opener of the twinbill, but Ross (5-3) returned the favor in the nightcap, holding the Reds to one run on three hits and five walks while striking out eight over seven strong frames.
Rivera sparked San Diego's offense with a two-run homer in the second, while Alonso added an RBI single in the sixth and a solo shot in the eighth to provide plenty of support for Ross.
Everth Cabrera also clubbed a solo homer for the Padres, who had won four straight before being blanked by the Reds in the twinbill opener.
Brandon Phillips plated the lone run for Cincinnati, which has lost five of its last eight games.
Reds starter Jeff Francis (0-1) was recalled from Triple-A Louisville prior to the game and allowed three runs on five hits over five innings in his first big league start of the season.
Phillips' RBI groundout in the first gave the Reds a 1-0 lead, but Rivera followed Cameron Maybin's two-out single in the second with a deep drive to left to provide the Padres with a 2-1 lead.
San Diego added to the margin in the third when Chris Denorfia clubbed a one- out double and scored two batters later on Chase Headley's single to center.
With Francis done after five frames, Logan Ondrusek walked the bases loaded with two outs in the sixth before giving way to Sean Marshall, who served up Alonso's single to center that scored Headley for a 4-1 lead.
Cabrera stroked his first homer of the season with one out in the seventh, while Alonso left the yard for the first time this year with two outs in the eighth to account for the final margin.
Game Notes
Francis went 4-3 with a 3.33 ERA in eight starts at Louisville this season after going 3-5 with a 6.27 ERA in 12 starts and 11 relief appearances for the Colorado Rockies last season. ... The Padres won their first road series of the season ... San Diego has won each of Ross' last four appearances ... Cincinnati third baseman Todd Frazier went 1-for-3 to extend his career-high hit streak to 14 games ... The Reds went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base.
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