Right from the start, a horse trained by one not-so-over-the-hill Hall of Famer and ridden by another took control of the Preakness. The result: a huge upset and the end of any hopes for a Triple Crown attempt at the Belmont Stakes.CINCINNATI – The rain was coming down. Johnny Cueto felt uncomfortable on the muddy mound. Jimmy Rollins wasn’t going to give him a chance to get his calm back.
Rollins swung at the first pitch and hit a three-run homer during a cloudburst on Monday afternoon, sending Philadelphia to a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds that featured the Phillies’ young pitchers.
And Rollins, of course.
Cueto (17-7) was trying to become the major leagues’ first 18-game winner. He had a perfect record in day games, going 11-0 in 13 afternoon starts this season. When rain fell hard in the fifth inning, it all came apart.
Rollins hit a first-pitch change-up that Cueto left over the plate.
“The mound was getting slippery,” Cueto said, with a team trainer translating. “It was slippery the pitch before (Rollins’ homer). When it rains you expect that. It’s not an excuse.”
Rollins’ 17th homer made it 3-1 and gave him 1,999 career hits.
“He challenged Rollins and Rollins hurt him there,” manager Charlie Manuel said.
John Mayberry Jr. added a solo homer off Cueto, who had allowed two in a game only one other time all season. Rookie right-hander Tyler Cloyd (1-1) got his first major league hit and win.
The Reds returned from a 5-1 road trip that gave them control of the NL Central.
NATIONALS 2, CUBS 1: In Washington, Ross Detwiler allowed four hits in seven shutout innings and Adam LaRoche homered, giving Washington its first winning season.
ASTROS 5, PIRATES 1: In Pittsburgh, Brett Wallace had three hits, including a three-run homer, to help give Edgar Gonzalez (1-0) his first victory as a starter in more than four years.
MARLINS 7, BREWERS 3: In Miami, Jose Reyes drove in three runs and Miami snapped a four-game losing streak.
BRAVES 6, ROCKIES 1: In Atlanta, Kris Medlen struck out a career high 12 to lead Atlanta.
Medlen (7-1) pitched his second complete game of the season.
CARDINALS 5, METS 4: In St. Louis, rookie Joe Kelly pitched 6 2/3 innings and also doubled for NL wild card-leading St. Louis. Kelly (5-6) allowed five hits and two runs.
GIANTS 9, DIAMONDBACKS 8, 10 inn.: In San Francisco, Marco Scutaro hit an RBI single in the 10th inning after Buster Posey’s tying double in the ninth for San Francisco.
