Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds have built their success on pitching and defense.

On Saturday, it was more pitching and not much else.

The Reds had three errors that led to two unearned runs and the offense managed just two hits in a 3-1 loss to the San Diego Padres.

San Diego jumped in front to start the game courtesy of some shoddy Reds’ defense.

Chris Denorfia singled leading off and Will Venable followed with a hit to left-center. But an error by Xavier Paul fielding the ball allowed Denorfia to score and Venable was able to reach second base.

A throwing error by third baseman Jack Hannahan allowed Chase Headley to reach with Venable scoring.

Hannahan was guilty of three throwing errors in the game.

Reds’ starter Tony Cingrani then struck out Jesus Guzman and Yonder Alonso and got Jedd Gyorko to fly out to center.

The Reds answered with a run in the bottom of the inning.

Shin-Soo Choo walked to lead off and stole second. Zack Cozart struck out and Joey Votto grounded out as Choo went to third. Brandon Phillips singled home Choo but Phillips was caught stealing to end the inning.

Cingrani went five innings and manager Dusty Baker elected to replace him with reliever Alfredo Simon.

Cingrani gave up just two hits, struck out five, walked two and both runs were unearned. He threw 92 pitches.

The Padres offense went without a hit until Venable greeted reliever Manny Parra with a home run — hits 15th of the season — to right field with one out in the eighth inning. Parra relieved Simon after he struck out Denorfia to start the inning.

The Reds’ offense was very quiet after the first inning.

Joey Votto and Jay Bruce walked in the fourth, Devin Mesoraco singled to start the fifth and Votto singled with two outs in the sixth.

The Reds stirred in the seventh when Bruce walked and Paul singled him to third.

But Mesoraco flied out into a double play as Paul was cut down trying to go to second. Hannahan grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

The Reds went in order against Padres’ closer Huston Street in the ninth.