Parade of relievers keeps Reds in check, Padres win 5-4

CINCINNATI -- — Tommy Pham homered, San Diego relievers pitched four scoreless innings and the Padres outlasted the Reds 5-4 on Tuesday night for their 10th win in 11 games.

San Diego stranded a season-high 16 runners — leaving the bases loaded in the third, sixth and seventh innings — and utilized seven relievers after Craig Stammen lasted two innings.

But they got all the runs they needed in the first four and beat the Reds again after sweeping a four-game series at Petco Park two weeks ago.

Jake Cronenworth had a run-scoring triple in the first and came home on Manny Machado's sacrifice fly to give the Padres an early lead. Pham drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the second and then hit a solo homer in the fourth.

The Reds chipped away with runs in the first and fourth innings. Jesse Winker's 19th homer, a two-run drive to right-center in the fifth off Nabil Crismatt, got them within a run, but they went 1 for 16 with 10 strikeouts after that.

Emilio Pagán (4-0) struck out Joey Votto, Eugenio Suárez and Kyle Farmer in order in the eighth, and Mark Melancon mowed down the bottom of the Reds' order in the ninth for his major league-leading 25th save in 28 chances.

“Definitely a group effort,” Pham said. “Our bullpen held it down for us. They came in and did their thing.”

Tony Santillan (1-2) gave up two runs and six hits in three innings for the Reds, and a parade of seven relievers followed.

Tucker Stephenson and Shogo Akiyama drove in runs for Cincinnati.

“We gave it a shot,” Reds manager David Bell said. "Our bullpen did a great job giving us a chance to win. If a ball falls in here or there, it’s a different game.”

WHAT A CATCH

With one on and one out in the Reds seventh, Padres right fielder Wil Myers likely saved a run when he made a sliding catch on a Nick Castellanos liner, just getting his glove between the ground and the baseball. Jonathan India, who was on the move, had to scurry back to first base.

YOU'RE GONE

Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer argued heatedly with home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after being called out on strikes to end the sixth inning. He voiced his displeasure from the dugout again in the seventh, and Wendelstedt emphatically ejected him.

MARATHON MEN

The Reds played the sixth game in a string of 18 in a row that will take them to the All Star break. By then they will have played 33 games in 34 days. Monday was supposed to have been an off day, but Cincinnati had to make up a June 4 rainout game with the Phillies. With late afternoon temperatures hovering near 100 degrees at Great American Ball park on Tuesday, the Reds skipped batting practice and pregame workouts on the field, which they’ll also do Wednesday. The Padres play 13 straight before the break.

TRAINERS ROOM

Padres: Scheduled starter Brandon Snell was scratched because of a stomach illness. He is day to day. ... The Padres' bullpen got a boost when left-hander Drew Pomeranz (shoulder) and right-hander Pierce Johnson (triceps) were activated from the injured list. Both pitched a scoreless inning.

Reds: CF Tyler Naquin missed a second game with a sore right wrist. Akiyama started in his place.

UP NEXT

The Padres send right-hander Joe Musgrove (4-6) against Reds right-hander Vladimir Gutierrez (3-2) on Wednesday night. Musgrove allowed two runs and two hits in six innings in last Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Dodgers. Gutierrez went six innings for the Reds Friday, allowing three runs and six hits in a 3-2 loss to Atlanta.

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Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacy

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