DENVER - Matt Harvey and the Reds bullpen could have used some Scooter Gennett good-luck charms Sunday.
Harvey gave up two homers in the first inning and the bullpen gave up two more in the Reds’ 8-2 loss to the Rockies Sunday.
Meanwhile, Gennett (.340) followed his 5-for-5 Saturday night with two more straight hits, and his 2-for-4 tied Braves’ Nick Markakis for the National League batting lead.
"There's ups and downs and right now I'm up, and I'm going to try to ride it out as long as possible," Gennett said.
Joey Votto (2-for-4) and Gennett hit back-to-back doubles in the first to give the Reds a 1-0 lead, but it didn't last long.
David Dahl led off with a home run on the first pitch, Nolan Arenado singled and Carlos Gonzalez blasted a third-deck homer off Harvey to make it 3-1 Rockies. The rout was on.
Harvey said he threw right to Gonzalez' sweet spot.
"I think everybody's seen (Gonzalez) enough, I've seen him enough, and that low-and-in spot is right where his sweet swing is," Harvey said. "I put it right there."
Harvey (1-3) blanked the Rockies for the next four innings but took his first loss as a Red since he was acquired from the Mets on May 8. He allowed four runs and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings.
Arenado and Ian Desmond hit two-run homers off Reds relievers Tanner Rainey and Dylan Floro, respectively. German Marquez (4-5) pitched seven innings of one-run ball in his second straight victory.
Gonzalez had a season-high four hits. It was his first four-hit game since Sept. 12, 2016, at Arizona.
UP NEXT
Reds: RHP Homer Bailey (1-6, 6.21 ERA) starts Monday in the opener of a three-game series at Arizona. Bailey has pitched better on the road amid his struggles this season, touting a 4.64 ERA in four starts. RHP Matt Koch (2-3) will oppose him for the Diamondbacks.
Rockies: RHP Chad Bettis (4-1, 3.30) will open a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants, opposing LHP Andrew Suarez (1-4). Bettis departed after five innings in his last start against the Dodgers with a sore right middle finger.
