CINCINNATI (AP) — Billy Hamilton ended one of the major leagues’ longest home run droughts with a three-run shot, and Devin Mesoraco hit his first in more than two years, powering the Reds to a 7-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.
The Reds have won five of six from their Ohio River rivals.
Eugenio Suarez started the Reds’ surge with a three-run homer in the first inning off Jameson Taillon (2-1), who hadn’t allowed a homer on the road this season. Hamilton hit his first homer since June 28 — a streak of 319 at-bats that was the third-longest active drought in the majors — just inside the right-field pole for a 6-0 lead in the fourth inning.
Mesoraco missed most of the last two seasons because of surgery on his hip and shoulder. He connected for a solo shot in the sixth off Trevor Williams, the catcher’s first homer since Sept. 23, 2014 — a span of 117 at-bats.
Rookie Davis (1-1) repeatedly escaped threats to get his first victory in the majors.