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Bruce leads onslaught as Reds crush Marlins

Jun 7, 2008 - 3:57 AM By Chris Stock PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

MIAMI (Ticker) -- Rookie Jay Bruce is not overwhelmed by the bright lights. He's even outshining one of the biggest superstars in the game.

Bruce drove in a season-high three runs and Ken Griffey Jr. remained stuck on 599 career home runs as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Florida Marlins, 11-3 on Friday night.

Bruce went 3-for-4 to continue his torrid start since being called up to the majors. The 21-year old phenom is now hitting .463 with three home runs and 10 RBIs in 11 games.

"I just try to stay with a consistent approach," Bruce said. "I'm trying not to change anything. A lot of people have told me the game's just the same. It's just bigger stands, better uniforms, superstars, stuff like that."

Brandon Phillips and Jerry Hairston each drove in two runs for the Reds, who pounded out 17 hits en route to their seventh straight win over the Marlins.

Thanks in large part to Bruce, the Reds broke out of their offensive slump. Cincinnati had scored just eight runs in the last four games.

"To tell the truth, it was bound to happen," Phillips said of the Reds' huge night at the plate.

Meanwhile, Griffey's pursuit of history was put on hold. The future Hall of Famer doubled, singled and also walked twice in his fifth attempt at becoming just the sixth player in major league history with at least 600 career home runs

Lost in the offensive explosion and Griffey's looming milestone was the performance of rookie Johnny Cueto (5-5), who won his third straight start. Cueto allowed three runs and eight hits and in six innings with three walks and eight strikeouts.

"He's learning from his bad experiences," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "The guy is full of determination and wants it real badly. He's learning to keep his emotions in check."

Hairston delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning and Bruce followed with an RBI single to give the Reds a 4-2 advantage.

"That's why they're at the top of the lineup, to get on base, and they both drove in key runs and scored a lot of runs," Baker said.

In the fifth inning, the Reds scored four runs - all with two outs - off reliever Doug Waechter. Cueto started off the scoring with an RBI single for his first major league hit. Hairston doubled in a run and Bruce drove in two with a single to break the game open.

Marlins starter Andrew Miller (4-5) gave up four runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings. The lefthander struck out six and walked three.

"I felt like I had good stuff," Miller said. "I was obviously not throwing enough strikes and executing pitches when I had to. A team like that, they're going to knock you around when I throw the ball like that."

Jorge Cantu hit two home runs - both solo shots - for Florida, which has lost five of six. It was the fifth multi-home run game of his career and his first since September 16, 2005, at Baltimore.