Reds 3 HRs edge past Padres in four-game series opener

A game-opening homer by Joey Votto and home runs by Tucker Barnhart and Jesse Winker led the visiting Cincinnati Reds to a 4-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. The Reds snapped a four-game losing streak while handing the Padres a fourth straight loss.

The Votto and Barnhart homers were among the three hits allowed by Padres rookie starter Chris Paddack, whose only walk came in front of Barnhart's first homer of the season in the fifth inning. Cincinnati's final run came on a ninth-inning homer by Jesse Winkler off reliever Phil Maton.

Paddack (0-1) struck out five over six innings. Reds right-hander Tanner Roark (1-0) allowed one run on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings. Raisel Iglesias struck out the side in the ninth to pick up his third save of the season.

Leading off the only the fourth time in his career, Votto homered on Paddack's third pitch of the game to give Cincinnati a quick 1-0 lead. Paddack had jumped ahead 0-2 when Votto homered to right-centre on a fastball down the middle of the plate. It was the first game-opening homer of Votto's career. Paddack retired 12 of the next 13 hitters he faced before walking Scott Schebler to open the fifth. Barnhart followed with a one-out homer to make it 3-0.

The Padres scored their lone run in the sixth. Roark opened the inning by walking Luis Urias. After pinch hitter Greg Garcia line out, rookie shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr., who was hitting leadoff for the first time in his 19-game major league career, singled, ending Roark's night.

Left-handed reliever Zach Duke came on to strike out Eric Hosmer. However, Manny Machado greeted right-hander Robert Stephenson with a ground-rule double into the left-field corner to drive in Urias and place the tying run in scoring position. Stephenson struck out Franmil Reyes to end the threat. 

(With inputs from agencies.)