CINCINNATI (AP) — Jon Moscot struck out the first batter he faced in the major leagues. Then his nerves kicked in.

Will Venable hit the first of San Diego’s three solo homers on Friday night, taking advantage of Moscot’s shaky debut, and the Padres pulled away to a 6-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in a rain-delayed game.

Will Middlebrooks and Derek Norris also connected for the Padres, who matched their season high for homers.

The Reds lost for the 13th time in 18 games, unable to overcome a rough first inning by another rookie starter. They’ve used four rookies in the rotation this season.

Moscot (0-1) was called up to fill in for the injured Raisel Iglesias. The right-hander threw 37 pitches in the first inning alone, walking three batters, including Yonder Alonso with the bases loaded.

The 23-year-old pitcher had family from California in the stands watching as he fanned Venable to open the game. It went downhill from there.

“The guys were telling me that I belonged here and all that, but that (nervousness) took over a little bit,” he said. “I wasn’t pitching my game. I wasn’t attacking, and I was trying to be too fine. I made the adjustment.

“After throwing 37 pitches, it was good to be able to at least get five innings.”

Manager Bryan Price expected the rookie to get caught up in the moment a little bit.

“It’s his major league debut,” Price said. “He’s a southern California kid. He’s seen these guys on TV, and now he’s facing them. I thought he managed the game well after the first inning.”

Tyson Ross improved to 4-0 in his career against the Reds by going five innings before heavy rain moved in.

Ross (3-5) allowed five hits, including Joey Votto’s two-run single, before a delay of 69 minutes in the top of the sixth.

San Diego’s two runs in the first inning gave it 42 in the opening inning this season, the most in the National League.

Venable’s fourth homer made it 3-0 in the second inning. Middlebrooks hit his eighth homer an inning later. Moscot lasted five innings, giving up four hits and three walks while throwing 83 pitches.

Morris homered in the seventh off Pedro Villarreal, who also was called up from Triple-A before the game.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: Wil Myers’ left wrist felt good after swinging a bat. He’s been on the disabled list since May 19 with tendinitis. He could start a rehab assignment on Sunday.

Reds: Iglesias had soreness in his left side following his start last Saturday and it bothered him when he tried to throw again, prompting the Reds to put him on the 15-day DL on Friday with a strained oblique.

STANDING OVATION

Second baseman Brandon Phillips got a standing ovation in the eighth when he dived to get Middlebrooks’ grounder up the middle and flipped behind his back to second base to start a double play. An inning earlier, Phillips got to Venable’s grounder on the outfield grass and made a backhand flip to first base for the out.

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN …

There have been seven rain delays at Great American Ball Park this season totaling 11 hours, 49 minutes. There’s been a delay every day of the week except Tuesday.

SMILE

A helicopter circled Great American in the late innings, shooting video for All-Star Game commercials.

UP NEXT

Padres: RH Andrew Cashner (2-8) is coming off his shortest outing, 4 2-3 innings of a 7-0 loss to the Mets. He leads the majors in losses.

Reds: RH Michael Lorenzen (1-1) makes his third consecutive start after two relief appearances. He’s 0-0 with a 2.03 ERA in those last two starts.

———

Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay

 

Reds’ boxscore

FRIDAY’S GAME

Padres 6, Reds 2

San Diego Cincinnati

ab r h bi ab r h bi

Venable cf 5 1 2 1 Phillips 2b 3 0 1 0

De.Norris c 4 2 1 1 Votto 1b 2 0 1 2

Upton lf 4 1 1 0 Frazier 3b 4 0 0 0

Kemp rf 4 0 1 0 Bruce rf 4 0 0 0

Alonso 1b 3 0 1 1 Cozart ss 4 0 1 0

Midlebrks 3b 3 1 1 2 Schumakr lf 3 0 1 0

Spangnbrg 2b 3 1 1 0 Barnhart c 4 1 1 0

Amarista ss 4 0 1 1 Moscot p 1 0 0 0

T.Ross p 2 0 0 0 De Jesus ph 1 0 0 0

Almonte ph 1 0 0 0 Badenhop p 0 0 0 0

Thayer p 0 0 0 0 Hoover p 0 0 0 0

Maurer p 0 0 0 0 Negron ph 1 0 0 0

Benoit p 0 0 0 0 Villarreal p 0 0 0 0

Solarte ph 1 0 0 0 Ju.Diaz p 0 0 0 0

Garces p 0 0 0 0 B.Pena ph 1 0 0 0

B.Hamilton cf 4 1 1 0

Totals 34 6 9 6 Totals 32 2 6 2

 

San Diego 211 001 100 — 6

Cincinnati 000 020 000 — 2

 

DP—Cincinnati 1. LOB—San Diego 5, Cincinnati 7. 2B—Amarista (5), Schumaker (8). HR—Venable (4), De.Norris (6), Middlebrooks (8). CS—Phillips (1). SF—Middlebrooks.

IP H R ER BB SO

San Diego

T.Ross W,3-5 5 5 2 2 3 7

Thayer H,5 1 0 0 0 1 1

Maurer 1 0 0 0 0 1

Benoit 1 0 0 0 0 0

Garces 1 1 0 0 0 0

Cincinnati

Moscot L,0-1 5 4 4 4 3 3

Badenhop 2-3 2 1 1 0 1

Hoover 1-3 0 0 0 0 0

Villarreal 2 2 1 1 0 1

Ju.Diaz 1 1 0 0 0 0

Umpires—Home, Paul Nauert; First, Ed Hickox; Second, Mike Estabrook; Third, Dana DeMuth.

T—2:51 (Delay: 1:09). A—33,381 (42,319).