Tyler Stephenson powers Reds past Rockies

Tyler Stephenson hit a three-run homer and a two-run shot to help the Cincinnati Reds to an 8-1 win against the visiting Colorado Rockies in the finale of their four-game series on Thursday afternoon.

Santiago Espinal also homered and Spencer Steer and Jonathan India each had three hits and two runs scored for the Reds, who took three of four in the series.

In his first outing since he was named to his first All-Star team, Reds starter Hunter Greene (6-4) allowed one run and two hits over six innings. Greene struck out the first six batters before finishing with a season-high 10 whiffs and two walks.

The 24-year-old right-hander was coming off seven shutout innings and a no-decision in a 5-3 home loss to the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.

Michael Toglia homered for the Rockies, who have lost four of five games.

Colorado starter Austin Gomber (2-6) allowed four runs and seven hits in five innings. He struck out five and walked one.

India singled to start the third for Cincinnati and took second on a fielding error by left fielder Sam Hilliard. Steer hit a one-hopper that went off the glove of shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and into shallow left for a double, putting runners on second and third.

Jeimer Candelario popped out, but Stephenson followed with an opposite-field three-run homer down the right-field line to give the Reds a 3-0 lead.

Espinal took Gomber deep with one out in the fourth to extend the lead to 4-0.

Toglia homered to right on the second pitch of the fifth to trim the lead to 4-1.

Candelario hit a two-rule double in the seventh to make it 6-1 and extend his on-base streak to 11 games.

Stephenson, the designated hitter on Thursday, then pulled a two-run homer over the fence in left for an 8-1 lead.

Stephenson also has seven extra-base hits in his past three games.

Reds right fielder Rece Hinds went 2-for-4 and is 8-for-16 in his first four major league games.

Reds relievers Sam Moll, Fernando Cruz, Justin Wilson and Lucas Sims blanked the Reds on one hit over the final three innings.

--Field Level Media