Major League Baseball

Cozart, Votto, Eugenio homer in Reds' 8-2 win over Braves

Published Jul. 18, 2016 11:44 p.m. ET

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CINCINNATI (AP) Zack Cozart, Joey Votto and Eugenio Suarez all homered in the fourth inning as the Cincinnati Reds got the better of a matchup between the NL's two worst teams, beating the Atlanta Braves 8-2 on Monday night.

The Reds (35-58) have taken three of five this season against the Braves, who have the majors' worst record (32-61). Atlanta is 19-31 all-time at Great American Ball Park, including five losses in its last six games.

The Reds connected three times off Matt Wisler (4-9), who has given up five homers in his last two starts. Cozart led off the fourth with his 15th homer, and Votto extended his second-half resurgence with a two-run shot. In four games since returning from the All-Star break, Votto is 8 for 15.

Suarez's two-run homer just inside the left-field foul pole made it 5-1. Votto later added an RBI single.

Left-hander Brandon Finnegan (5-7) pitched into the sixth and gave up seven hits - three of them by Adonis Garcia, who hit a solo homer in the sixth. Finnegan had lost three of his last four starts, giving up 20 runs in 19 innings.

Wisler won his last start, 11-8 over the White Sox in Chicago on July 8 despite giving up six runs, including two homers. Since the start of June, he's 2-4 in eight starts with a 7.06 ERA.

Billy Hamilton singled three times, scored a run and stole three bases for a total of 27, the third-most in the NL.

MESORACO SURGERY

Reds C Devin Mesoraco had surgery on his right hip Monday, his third major operation in a year. He had surgery on the left hip last season and was back for opening day. He had surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder in May. The right hip started bothering him early this season, and doctors advised that it would require surgery at some point as well.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: RH Shae Simmons threw a simulated game on Monday. He's recovering from Tommy John surgery in February 2015.

Reds: 2B Brandon Phillips was back in the lineup after missing two games with a strained right calf. He went 1 for 3 and left for a pinch hitter in the seventh.

UP NEXT

Braves: RHP Tyrell Jenkins (0-1, 4.50) makes his second career start and sixth major league appearance.

Reds: LHP Cody Reed (0-4, 8.39) makes his sixth career start. He has failed to last five innings in his last three starts.

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