Reds power past Padres, 13-1

Published 12:16 am Sunday, August 14, 2011

CINCINNATI (AP) — Miguel Cairo had to reach for an explanation for the first multihomer game of his career.

“The wind must have been blowing out,” he suggested.

No, it wasn’t the wind — more of a breeze than anything. And it wasn’t the rainbow that formed behind the right-field stands early in the game, or the full moon that appeared behind the left-field bleachers later on.

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Just call it one of those nights.

Cairo and Ryan Hanigan each homered twice, and the Reds hit seven in all off starter Tim Stauffer and the Padres bullpen — matching a San Diego record — while powering their way to a 13-1 victory on Saturday.

The Reds won their fourth straight game — one shy of their season high — with their biggest home run splurge of the season.

“That was like a Little League game,” said Todd Frazier, who had a solo shot. “I played in a Little League game where we hit 11 home runs. That was a fun game tonight. Everybody contributed.”

Stauffer (7-9) gave up five homers in only three innings, tying Woody Williams’ club record for most allowed in a game. The right-hander gave up three — his previous career high — in a 9-8 loss to the Mets on Monday. The eight homers allowed in consecutive starts also is a club record.

“You never expect to be embarrassed out there, and that’s what happened today,” Stauffer said.

Reds starter Homer Bailey (7-5) gave up six hits in seven innings, including Kyle Blanks’ homer. While the rest of the lineup played home run derby, Bailey struggled to get the ball out of the infield.

“They don’t pay me to hit,” Bailey said. “I just went seven and gave up one.”

One of the major leagues’ most homer-friendly ballparks was at its most gracious. All 14 runs scored off homers. The eight combined homers matched Great American’s record for a game.

Joey Votto hit a solo homer in the first inning, latching onto a below-the-knees fastball from Stauffer. After Jay Bruce walked, Cairo homered for a 3-0 lead.

Frazier led off the second with a homer, and the Reds sent eight batters to the plate for five runs in the third. Bruce hit a two-run shot — his fourth homer in the last six games — and Hanigan completed the rally with a three-run drive that left Stauffer rattled.

The right-hander dropped the baseball that catcher Nick Hundley tossed to the mound while Hanigan rounded the bases. Second baseman Orlando Hudson then jogged to the mound for a pep talk. Stauffer retired Bailey to end the inning and his appearance.

It was a stunning turnaround for Stauffer, who had been at his best in his last dozen starts, putting up a 2.25 ERA.

Cairo hit another two-run shot off Anthony Bass for his first multihomer game. Hanigan had a two-run shot in the eighth against Joe Thatcher for his second career multihomer game.

It was the fourth time San Diego gave up seven in a game, the last time on Sept. 18, 2006, at Dodger Stadium. The last time Cincinnati homered seven times was July 4, 2010, at Wrigley Field.

NOTES: The Padres wrap up their 10-game trip to New York, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati on Sunday. They’re 5-4 so far. … The Reds will try for their first sweep of the Padres in Cincinnati since they took three straight in August 2002, the final season at Cinergy Field. … LHP Wade LeBlanc will make his sixth start of the season for San Diego on Sunday. He hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in any start so far. … Reds 2B Brandon Phillips was out of the lineup for the fourth straight game because of a sore left elbow, hit by a pitch last Tuesday. He took ground balls and is expected back on Sunday. … LHP Dontrelle Willis tries for his elusive first win for Cincinnati on Sunday. Willis is 0-2 in six starts. The bullpen has blown three saves behind him. … Willis has hit safely in all six starts. It’s the longest hitting streak by a Reds pitcher since Jose Rijo hit in eight straight in 1993.