CINCINNATI -- In a game where a cornucopia of runs were scored in the early innings, the Reds held off the Twins to claim a series-opening 11-7 victory on Monday night at Great American Ball Park.
Cincinnati, which was coming off being swept by the Mets while scoring only four runs in three games, built a 9-1 run lead through three innings. As 10 men batted in a five-run Reds third, Eugenio Suarez hit a two-run double to center field as Twins starter Mike Pelfrey's final batter. Later in the inning with the bases loaded against Alex Meyer, Joey Votto hit a two-run single.