Reds Take Game One Behind Cozart’s Bat.

Jul 23, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Cincinnati Reds shortstop Zack Cozart (2) rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fifth inning in the first game of a doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants at AT

The Reds offense picked off where it left off Monday night after scoring 11 runs on 17 hits scored two runs less today but it was certainly enough to take Game 1 of the doubleheader against the San Francisco Giants 9-3 on Tuesday Afternoon at AT&T Park.

It was Tony Cingrani on the mound for the Reds and he struggled in the first inning throwing 28 pitches and allowing one hit on two walks while surrendering a run on a sac fly it to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

Reds offense waste no time in the second inning to regain the lead for good with runners on 2nd and first with one out Zack Cozart who had a huge day with four hits hit a soft single to left scoring Jay Bruce to tie the game at 1. Devin Mesarco stepped in and he’s on a roll since the all star break was over connected on a three run homerun to left to give the Reds a  4-1 lead it was his 5th homerun of the season second in the series.

In the third inning Joey Votto lead off with an opposite field homerun his 14th to give the Reds a 5- 1 lead. They weren’t done Todd Frazier singled to center scoring Bruce to make it 6-1, then Tony Cingrnai got into the hit party with a soft single to swallow center scoring Cozart to make it 7-1 chasing Giants starter and Moller Crusader Eric Surkamp out of the game.

Cozart was not done at the plate in the fifth inning connected on his 8th homerun of the season to left field to give them a comfortable 8-2 lead. The Reds will add one more in the ninth and the Giants get one also in the bottom inning didn’t matter game was out of reach by then.

Final line for Cingrani 6 2/3 innings pitched, five hits allowed, two runs, walked three and struck out three to pick up his fourth win of the season to up his record overall to 4-1. Reds improved to 5-0 against the Giants and will look for the rare double header sweep as they will send Greg Reynolds making his Reds debut on the mound and the Giants will counter with Barry Zitio.