Tribe falls 20 games under .500 with loss to Cincinnati

Associated Press

Cincinnati

The only thing different about the surging Cincinnati Reds was their headgear.

Drew Stubbs drove in four runs with a homer and a single Friday night, powering the NL’s top-hitting lineup to its fourth straight victory, 10-3 over the Cleveland Indians.

“We’ll ride this out as long as we can,” said Stubbs, who matched his career high for RBIs. “Eight to 10 wins would be great.”

The Reds wore green caps as part of an Irish Heritage Night promotion, bringing a new hue to the intrastate rivalry — one that’s been one-sided lately. Cincinnati is 12-4 in the series over the last three seasons.

Aaron Harang (6-7) gave up eight hits in seven innings, getting his first victory in three starts. Cincinnati had been shut out in his last two starts.

Didn’t take long to end that trend.

Stubbs hit a two-run homer in the second off Aaron Laffey (0-2), and added a two-run single in the fifth that made it 8-2.

“When guys score runs early like that, it makes it easier to pitch,” Harang said. “You don’t have to worry as much about making mistakes.”

Scott Rolen drew a bases-loaded walk and homered for the Reds, who lead the NL in batting average and hits. Jay Bruce doubled twice, scored three times and had a sacrifice fly.

The Indians’ plummet continued unabated. Cleveland fell a season-low 20 games under .500 at 26-46 — the third-worst record in the majors. The Indians have lost 10 of 11 overall.

Carlos Santana hit a two-run homer in the fifth, then left the game with a sore left thumb. Jhonny Peralta added a solo shot in the sixth.

Santana jammed the thumb when he hit an inside pitch during his first at-bat. It started to swell as the game went along and was bothering him his homer. X-rays were negative.