Cueto, Frazier lead Reds to 5-2 win over Rockies
DENVER (AP) -- Johnny Cueto shrugged off trade rumors and pitched eight scoreless innings, Todd Frazier connected for his 100th career home run, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Colorado Rockies 5-2 Saturday night.
Billy Hamilton had three hits and scored twice for the Reds.
Cueto (7-6,) whose name has come up repeatedly in potential trade-deadline deals, put on a dominating display in hitter-friendly Coors Field, limiting the power-hitting Rockies' lineup to four singles before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in the ninth. He struck out five and walked one in a performance sure to heighten attention ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.
The Rockies scored twice in the ninth off Jumbo Diaz before Aroldis Chapman came on to retire pinch-hitter Michael McKenry for the game's final out, notching his 20th save.
Chris Rusin (3-4) allowed five runs and 10 hits in five innings.
The Reds batted around in the third to take a 4-0 lead behind Joey Votto's RBI single and the three-run shot by Frazier -- the winner of the home run derby during All Star game festivities at his home park. It was Frazier's 27th of the season.
Hamilton, the major league leader in stolen bases, triggered the Reds' big inning when he singled to lead off the third. Initially called out, a reply review showed he beat the ball to the bag.
In the fifth, he manufactured another run, singling up the middle and then flashing his speed on the bases.
Rusin threw to first in an attempted pickoff but Hamilton was already headed to second, forcing a hurried and errant throw by first baseman Ben Paulsen that went into the outfield, allowing Hamilton to advance to third. He scored on Votto's groundout after initially being called out at home. The Reds challenged and the replay showed Hamilton got in ahead of the tag.