Friedl homers and Francona gets 2,000th win as the Reds beat the Rockies 4-2
Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer, right, congratulates teammate TJ Friedl on scoring a run against the Colorado Rockies during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Jay LaPrete
CINCINNATI — TJ Friedl homered and Cincinnati manager Terry Francona got his 2,000th win when he directed the Reds to a 4-2 win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.
Matt McLain and Austin Hays each had two hits as Cincinnati won the rubber game of the weekend series. Nick Martinez (7-9) pitched 5 1/3 innings of two-run ball.
The Reds are 50-47 at the All-Star break in their first season since Francona was hired in October. The 66-year-old Francona is 2,000-1,719 in 24 years as a big league skipper.
Mickey Moniak drove in two runs for Colorado, and Austin Gomber (0-3) allowed two earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.
The Rockies go into the break with a major league-worst 22-74 record. They have dropped seven of nine.
Friedl hit his ninth home run on Gomber's fourth pitch of the game. It was the 70th first-inning run for Cincinnati — tops in the NL.
Friedl also walked and scored on Hays' two-out single in the third, tying it at 2. He singled and scored on a two-out error on Colorado shortstop Ryan Ritter in the fifth.
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona signals to his team against the Colorado Rockies during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Jay LaPrete
The Reds added an insurance run in the seventh when Elly De La Cruz doubled and scored on Spencer Steer's single.
Emilio Pagán pitched a perfect ninth to match his career high with 20 saves in 23 opportunities.
The Rockies got both of their runs on Moniak's two-run single with two down in the third.
Tyler Freeman went 0 for 5 for Colorado, ending his on-base streak at 25 games.
Colorado Rockies second baseman Kyle Farmer turns the first half of a double play against Cincinnati Reds' Matt McLain during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Cincinnati. Credit: AP/Jay LaPrete
Cincinnati went 5-1 against Colorado this season. It went 6-1 against the Rockies last year.
Key moment
Scott Barlow replaced Martinez with two on and one out in the sixth. He retired Brenton Doyle on a flyout to center before striking out Yanquiel Fernández.
Key stat
Cincinnati was 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position, and Colorado went 1 for 7 in those situations.
Up next
The Rockies host Minnesota on Friday night. The Reds visit the New York Mets on Friday night.
More MLB news
