Billy Hamilton scored three times in the first three innings to help Cincinnati open a huge lead, and the Reds held on for an 11-7 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Monday night.
The Reds sent 10 batters to the plate for five runs and a 9-1 lead in the third inning, when Mike Pelfrey (5-5) failed to retire any of the four batters he faced. Pelfrey gave up eight runs — matching his season high — and nine hits, retiring only six of 17 batters.
Cincinnati’s Mike Leake let most of the lead slip away. Ten Twins batted during a six-run rally in the top of the fourth inning. Brian Dozier’s three-run homer off Leake cut it to 9-7.
Nate Adcock (1-1) got the victory with two scoreless innings in relief of Leake.
