Pretty easy victory for the Red Sox as Eduardo Rodriguez put together his best start of the season, and Mitch Moreland paced the offense with a three-run home run.
The Red Sox are 7-1 on the current road trip with one game left to play. They are 18-7 in their last 25 road games.
Rodriguez (6-6, 3.91) was masterful, not allowing a runner to advance past first base. He allowed just three hits in 7.2 innings.
Moreland, who hit his 20th home run of the season in the sixth, and Christian Vazquez each had two hits.
We'll be back with more coverage.
Live Game Coverage from Bedard
7:02: And a strikeout ends it. After a little drama, Kelly struck out the side. Final: Red Sox 5, Reds 0.
6:59: Struck out Suarez for the second out.
6:56: Back-to-back walks allowed by Kelly with one out. Now Craig Kimbrell is warming up. Not ideal on a day like this.
6:49: Joe Kelly on to start the ninth.
6:39: Luke Farrell is pitching against his father's team.
6:30: Exited with two outs and a runner on first. Carson Smith got the final out. Official line for Rodriguez: 7.2 innings, 0 runs, 3 hits, 6 Ks, 2 BBs, didn't allow a runner to second, 112 pitches, ERA now 3.91. Well done
6:22: ERod is coming out for the 8th.
6:13: ERod still in command through seven innings. 101 pitches. The Reds have not reached second base today.
6:03: RUN. After two, two-out walks, Benintendi sliced a ball to short left, plating Bogaerts. Holt got thrown out at third because he decided he didn't need to slide (face palm). Red Sox 5, Reds 0.
5:50: Devers made a nice play to snag a ground ball by Barnhart near the bag at third, but threw wide of first. Ruled a single. I thought it was an error.
5:26: Reds RHP Luke Farrell, John Farrell's son, is warming up.
5:32: THREE RUNS. Three-run bomb to right center by Mitch Moreland on the first pitch. Holt (error) and Benintendi (walk) were on board. Red Sox 4, Reds 0.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/911715730391011328
5:27: Looked like Rodriguez might get in a little trouble in the fifth when allowed a lead-off single. After a line out, the inning ended on a 3-6-3 double play. Rodriguez has thrown 69 pitches.
Why can't the Red Sox get players like this? ;)
https://twitter.com/MLB/status/911694184347774976
5:20: Bogaerts was robbed of extra bases when Suarez made a twisting snag toward the third-base line.
5:11: Vazquez thought a low pitch to Suarez was strike three and started to walk to the dugout. Home plate umpire Joe West didn't like that. ... Struck him out anyways. One hit allowed, five strikeouts for ERod through four.
5:09: Benintendi just cut down Joey Votto trying to stretch a single to double. Another great throw. Had him by 3 feet.
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/911704648695808002
5:02: Devers is definitely out of his slump. He just hit another laser, but this one was right at the rightfielder. That's two-straight he's hit on the nose. Chris Young popped out to end the inning.
5:01: Finally a little more action as Christian Vazquez singles down the right-field line with one out.
Former Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo is being celebrated today. He's playing a concert after the game. Wonder how many former teammates are sticking around?
https://twitter.com/Reds/status/911682691292106752
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/911692616869302272
4:31: Promising inning ends when, after the Reds intentionally walked Jackie Bradley with first base open, Eduardo Rodriguez bunted out, catcher to first.
4:28: Rafael Denver just laced a double off the top of the right-center field wall on the first pitch with one out.
4:24: First inning ends with a diving grab by Andrew Benintendi in right field. He got a late jump on the ball but made up for it.
4:22: First Reds out, an easy fly ball, was a little bit of a circus with Chris Young in right for the injured Mookie Betts. Young was very choppy getting to the ball, perhaps something to keep an eye on.
4:15: RUN. Xander Bogaerts leads off with a double down the left-field line, advances on a passed ball, and then Brock Holt knocks him in with a medium-deep sacrifice to center. Nice and easy start for the Sox. Red Sox 1, Reds 0.
Game 154
Who: Red Sox (89-64) vs. Reds (66-88)
When: 4:10 p.m.
Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati.
Pitchers: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-6, 4.15 ERA) vs. RHP Robert Stephenson (5-5, 5.01)
TV: NESN/MLB Network
Radio: WEEI 93.7 FM, WCEC 1490 AM/103.7 FM (Spanish)
Boxscore: MLB Gameday
Media notes: Red Sox
LINEUPS
Red Sox
Bogaerts SS
Holt 2B
Benintendi LF
Moreland 1B
Vázquez C
Devers 3B
Young RF
Bradley Jr. CF
Rodriguez LHP
Reds
Ervin CF
Cozart SS
Votto 1B
Suarez 3B
Gennett 2B
Schebler RF
Duvall LF
Barnhart C
Stephenson RHP
PRE-GAME NOTES
Mookie Betts was scratched from the lineup. He suffered a bruise to his left foot on a foul ball last night. He is day to day.
Dustin Pedroia is out of the lineup for maintenance on his troublesome left knee. He is expected to back in the lineup on Sunday. "He was grinding a little bit last night with the knee,” John Farrell said . “So, after talking with him after the game, checking in with him here this morning, I would expect him to be back in the lineup (tomorrow). But today is a treatment day for him as well.”
