Rookie Sal Stewart drove in six runs, Spencer Steer hit a three-run home run and Cincinnati Reds rolled to a 10-2 rout of the host New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon.
After striking out 13 times against Cam Schlittler in the series opener and a season-high 17 times in Friday’s 5-0 loss, the Reds broke free on offense while improving to 6-11 since losing Elly De La Cruz to a strained right hamstring.
Stewart tied his career high in RBIs after also driving in six runs April 15 against the San Francisco Giants.
Stewart put Cincinnati ahead 2-1 with a two-run double in the third off New York’s Will Warren (7-2) and lifted a sacrifice fly in the fifth three batters after Ben Rice dropped shortstop Anthony Volpe’s throw to first base on rookie Edwin Arroyo’s grounder.
Stewart capped his productive showing with a bases-clearing double in the eighth off Ryan Yarbrough to extend Cincinnati’s lead to 9-1.
Steer hit a three-run homer in the fifth two batters after Stewart’s sacrifice fly. Steer hit his fifth homer in June, and 12th of the season, when he drove a 2-1 pitch into the left field seats. He entered the plate appearance with two hits in his previous 42 at-bats.
Arroyo had four hits and reached base five times as the Reds finished with 15 hits and went 5-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
Cincinnati starter Andrew Abbott (5-4) allowed Paul Goldschmidt’s homer in the first inning among five hits in five-plus innings. Abbott struck out six, walked three and won for the first time in his past five starts.
New York had its best chance to stage a comeback in the fifth by loaded the bases following a two-out walk to Rosario. Abbott protected the five-run lead by getting a called third strike on Goldschmidt, who lost an ABS challenge.
Warren allowed six runs (two earned) on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out eight and walked two.
The Yankees fell to 10-6 since losing Aaron Judge to a fractured right rib. New York went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position while absorbing its most lopsided loss this season.
