Doyle has first 2-HR game, Castro 2-run double lifts Rockies past Reds 9-8

By CRAIG MEYER Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Rookie Brenton Doyle had first first multihomer game and Harold Castro had a tiebreaking, two-run double with two outs in the seventh inning that lifted Colorado over the Cincinnati Reds 9-8 Monday night for the Rockies’ 10th win in 14 games.
With the score 6-6, Ryan McMahon singled off Ben Lively (1-1) leading off the seventh. Luke Sims, who hadn’t allowed a run in 11 appearances this season, relieved with one out and walked Randal Grichuk with two outs.
Castro doubled off the base of the right-field wall, giving him three hits and three RBIs, and putting the Rockies ahead 8-6.
“He gets hits,” Rockies manager Bud Black said. “He’s a little bit of a slasher, a little bit of a low on-base compared to the batting average. There’s not a big gap between average and on-base, but the guy puts the bat on the ball. He’s a steady performer in a lot of ways. It was a good night for him.”
Wil Myers’ sacrifice fly in the eighth cut the gap, and Doyle homered off Buck Farmer in the bottom half. Doyle, a 25-year-old who debuted on April 24, has four homers in 17 games. He went deep Sunday on his birthday in a 4-0 win over Philadelphia.
“With your mindset, there’s a huge shift,” Doyle said. “You gain so much momentum and confidence. You go up there looking at the damage and you know you can do damage because you’ve been swinging the bat well.”
Nick Senzel hit an RBI single in the ninth against Pierce Johnson, who with two on retired Henry Ramos on a game-ending flyout for his seventh save in seven chances.
Daniel Bard (1-0) pitched around a walk in the seventh, getting help when Doyle sprinted in from center to make a diving catch on Spencer Steer leading off. Steer had three hits.
Mike Moustakas also homered for Colorado. The Rockies are 9-4 in May, the second-best win percentage in the major leagues this month behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cincinnati, which trailed 4-1 and 6-4, is 22-44 at Coors Field since 2002.
Reds starter Hunter Greene gave up six runs and nine hits in four innings with eight strikeouts. He had allowed four home runs in his first eight starts.
Greene averaged 98.2 mph with his fastball, down 0.6 mph from his season average, and reached 100 mph just once.
“I pitched really well tonight,” Greene said. “There were pitches that I doubled up on that I shouldn’t have. Those double-ups weren’t as good as the prior pitch.”
Colorado’s Connor Seabold gave up six runs — four earned — eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: RHP Nick Mears (left oblique strain) was placed on the 15-day injured list. Colorado selected the contract of LHP Fernando Abad from Triple-A Albuquerque.
Reds: 1B Joey Votto (left biceps, left rotator cuff surgeries) was transferred to the 60-day injured list. … OF TJ Friedl (left oblique strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Friday. In 124 at-bats this season, Friedl is hitting .306. INF Matt McClain’s contract was selected from Triple-A Louisville, where he was hitting .348 in 38 games.
UP NEXT
Rockies RHP Chase Anderson, claimed off waivers from Tampa Bay on Friday, is to start Tuesday night in his Rockies debut. He pitched five scoreless innings for the Rays in two relief appearances this year. LHP Brandon Williamson, a 25-year-old left-hander, will make his big league debut for the Reds after going 2-4 with a 6.62 at Triple-A Louisville.