Yonder Alonso "has a special day"

MIAMI -- Yonder Alonso had dinner with his parents Monday night. His mother, Damaris, had a prediction about Tuesday’s game.

"She said, 'I have a good feeling. You're going to have good game,'"

Alonso said. "She's right about a lot of things. She doesn't say that too often. I guess she blessed me."

Mother knows best.

Alonso drove in four runs, including the go-ahead runs in the ninth, to lift the Reds to a 8-6 victory over the Florida Marlins Tuesday night before a crowd of 21,204 at Sun Life Stadium.

Alonso, making his first start of the season at first base, went 3-for-4 with a walk, a home run and a double.

Alonso grew up in Miami after fleeing Cuba. He went to University of Miami, so having his best day as a pro in his adopted hometown was sweeter than sweet.

"A special day," he said.

The Reds went to the ninth down two runs and facing a closer for the second straight game. They roughed up Leo Nunez, just like they did Pittsburgh's Joel Hanrahan on Sunday.

With one out, pinch-hitter Joey Votto walked. Brandon Phillips followed with a single. Dave Sappelt doubled off the wall in left to get both home. The RBI were the first of Sappelt's career.

"I was just trying to get a pitch I could," Sappelt said. "The first two pitches he was at the knees outside corner. There's not too much you can do with it at 96, except foul it off. The third pitch he hung a change-up. I was on one."

The Marlins walked Jay Bruce intentionally. After Miguel Cairo struck out, Alonso lined one to center that Mike Cameron tried to make diving catch.

The ball went off his glove. Sappelt and Bruce scored to make it 8-6.

Comeback versus a closer complete.

"It's a huge boost for the whole team," Alonso said. "You're facing a closer. That's your best guy in the bullpen. Those guys have good arms and have been around. It's satisfying for us."

The last two games have been reminiscent of the 2010.

"It's not magic," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "It's getting hits and playing good ball."


(nky.cincinnati.com)