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Rookies help Reds complete sweep of Braves

Jun 1, 2008 - 11:13 PM By Doug Tifft PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- The Cincinnati Reds got home runs from rookie Jay Bruce and Adam Dunn, and a strong pitching performance from rookie Johnny Cueto in a 6-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves to complete a three-game sweep Sunday.

Bruce, the rookie sensation who is 13-for-22 (.591) since being called up Tuesday, had two hits, two RBI and scored twice one day after he hit a walk-off home run to give the Reds an 8-7 win. The Reds are 5-1 since Bruce was promoted from Class AAA Louisville on May 27.

"I'm excited we are going on a roll, just got to continue and keep the momentum going," Bruce said.

Bruce has made quite the impression in his first week in the big leagues, especially on his manager.

"Everything impresses me about him," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "His hitting, fielding, baserunning, everything."

Cueto (4-5) went seven innings, allowing two runs on back-to-back home runs to Mark Teixeira and Brian McCann in the seventh inning and struck out three. The righthander retired the first 14 men he faced and carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, when it was broken up on a bunt single by Gregor Blanco.

"He was obviously really good," Reds catcher Paul Bako said. "He hit a lot of his spots, pounded a lot of guys inside and commanded his fastball. Really that is the key for him is commanding his fastball, because it makes all of his other stuff a whole lot better. That was the case today."

The Reds got an early jolt in the form of Dunn, who blasted a 420-foot home run, his 15th of the season, into the right field bleachers to give the Reds a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.

Bruce homered to right in the bottom of the third and Brandon Phillips had an RBI double, extending Cincinnati's lead to 3-0.

When asked what the key to Bruce's recent success has been, Dunn had a simple response.

"He just doesn't know any better," Dunn said.

After the Braves plated two in the top of the seventh, the Reds answered with three runs of their own to help secure the victory. Jerry Hairston Jr. drove in a run on a squeeze bunt and Bruce singled home Andy Phillips before coming around to score on a wild pitch later in the frame.

Atlanta starter Tim Hudson (7-4) took the loss, giving up three runs over six innings before leaving the game in the seventh with a strained left hamstring. He will be re-evaluated in Atlanta on Monday.

The loss capped a 1-5 road trip for the Braves, who fell to a major league-worst 7-21 away from home.

"The frustration is at an all-time high," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said. "But fighting amongst ourselves and confronting people about their play is not going to do it. It's just going to make things worse. I've just got to go out and lead by example, and maybe things will turn around."

Ken Griffey Jr. went 2-for-3 with a run scored, but did not homer in his first game after hitting career No. 599 for the Reds, who have won 12 of their last 13 games at Great American Ballpark.

Baker, who has seen some historic home run chases of his own as Barry Bonds' manager during some of his historic home run seasons with the San Francisco Giants, thinks that it will not be long before Griffey connects for No. 600 as the Reds travel to Philadelphia for a four-game series. Griffey has hit home runs Nos. 300, 400, and 500 all on the road.

"I tell you one thing, he's got a good park in Philly that we are going to," Baker said. "And if history repeats itself, he will hit it on the road."