The Cincinnati Reds will look to continue to ride the hot hand of rookie Rece Hinds when they host the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night in the third contest of their four-game series.
After starting their 10-game homestand with three losses to the Detroit Tigers, the Reds have won their first two contests against the Rockies.
With the Reds dealing with injuries to outfielders TJ Friedl (hamstring strain) and Stuart Fairchild (spine disc), and Jake Fraley away on family medical emergency leave, Hinds was called up to make his major league debut on Monday.
Hines, 23, hit a 449-foot homer and collected a double for his first career hit in Monday’s 6-0 win. He followed that Tuesday with a double, triple and a 459-foot homer to the upper deck in Cincinnati’s 12-6 victory. He became the first MLB player since at least 1901 to get five extra-base hits over his first two career games.
“That’s pretty awesome,” Hinds said. “I knew I was doing some pretty cool stuff, but no, I didn’t. I try not to look up at the board and look at numbers. I kind of try to stay to my core, stay humble and do my thing.”
Hines had a chance at the cycle on Tuesday when he batted in the eighth. He struck out to end the inning, however.
The Reds will send right-hander Frankie Montas (4-6, 4.19 ERA) to the mound in the third game of the series. Montas will make his 17th start of the season.
In his last start on Thursday, he allowed two runs on four hits over five innings and picked up the win in an 8-4 victory over the host New York Yankees.
Montas will make his fifth career start against the Rockies, pitching to a 2-2 mark with a 3.38 ERA. He recorded his best start of the season vs. Colorado on June 4, allowing just one hit over seven shutout innings in a 4-1 victory.
The Rockies will counter Wednesday with left-hander Kyle Freeland (0-3, 6.62 ERA), who will make his fourth start since coming off the injured list with a strained left elbow.
In his last outing on Friday, Freeland received a no decision in Colorado’s 4-2 win over Kansas City, allowing two runs (one earned) and seven hits over seven innings.
In seven career starts against the Reds, Freeland is 3-2 with a 6.34 ERA.
Brenton Doyle led the Colorado offensive charge on Tuesday, hitting a pair of home runs for the second time this month and third time in his career. His second homer — off Buck Farmer in the eighth — traveled an estimated 442 feet over the Reds’ bullpen in left-center.
“He is swinging great,” Colorado manager Bud Black said. “He’s in a great spot. He’s hitting the ball (to all fields), he’s on time, he’s hitting all pitches. He’s doing his part, and we need other guys to do their part offensively. And we need to pitch (better).”
–Field Level Media