Spencer Steer’s inside-the-park homer sparks Reds’ 7-2 win over Rockies

DENVER (AP) — Spencer Steer hit two home runs, including an inside-the-park homer, Brady Singer gave up four hits in seven strong innings, and the Cincinnati Reds beat the Colorado Rockies 7-2 on Friday night.

Steer and Eugenio Suárez hit back-to-back homers in the sixth inning and Elly De La Cruz had three singles and a homer for the Reds.

Singer (4-9) struck out six and gave up two runs for his fifth quality start.

De La Cruz led off with a single and Sal Stewart drove him in with a double to give the Reds a 1-0 lead after one.

Troy Johnston tied the game on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but Steer put the Reds ahead 3-1 with a 404-foot, two-run shot to left.

Four pitches later, Suárez sent one 415 feet to left to stretch the advantage to 4-1.

Steer hit his inside-the-park homer in the eighth. He sent the ball to the wall in right-center, where it took an odd bounce. The relay throw home got away from Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, and Steer slid in to score.

Though it didn't leave the yard in Denver, Steer's hit would have been a homer in 24 of 30 ballparks, including Cincinnati's, per Statcast.

Rockies starter Gabriel Hughes (0-1) struck out six in 5 1/3 innings, giving up five hits and two runs. Willi Castro was 2 for 4 with a homer.

RHP Rhett Lowder (3-6, 4.91 ERA) takes the hill for the Reds in the second game of the series. The Rockies have not announced a starter.

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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer works against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Troy Johnston follows the flight of his sacrifice fly to drive in a run against Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly de la Cruz heads up the first-base line after hitting a single off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Gabriel Hughes in the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Cincinnati Reds third base coach Willie Harris, left, celebrates with Eugenio Su·rez as he circles the bases after hitting a solo home run off Colorado Rockies relief pitcher Jimmy Herget in the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman, left, fields the throw as Cincinnati Reds' Spencer Steer slides safely into home plate to notch an inside-the-park home run off Colorado relief pitcher Jeff Criswell in the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 17, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

PHOENIX (AP) — Major League Baseball's new Automated Ball/Strike system was implemented to help players challenge pitches that they feel were not called correctly.

There's one big caveat — it only works if it's used.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and three-time All-Star Ketel Marte learned that the hard way Friday night when Marte failed to challenge a called strike three by umpire Bill Miller for the final out in a 5-4 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. Television replays showed that the 100 mph sinker from Riley O'Brien was high and out of the strike zone.

The D-backs still had both of their ABS challenges remaining.

“I was looking for a breaking ball,” Marte said through an interpreter. “Got the two-seamer and I was a little bit surprised.”

D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said he hadn't talked to Marte about the gaffe and would address it with him Saturday. It was a tough night for the veteran second baseman, who also made an error in the first inning that led to two unearned runs.

“Clearly — I don't want to speak for Ketel — you guys will have a chance to talk to him, but he thought it was a strike," Lovullo said. "Sometimes you've got to trust your own instincts. Possibly thought it was a good pitch, checked off of it and lost the ability to challenge as soon as he stepped across home plate.”

The D-backs had plenty of other mistakes that led to the end of their four-game winning streak. One of the most frustrating: Pinch runner Jorge Barrosa was picked off in the ninth after Nolan Arenado drew a leadoff walk.

Lovullo said the team would learn from the mistake and the manager refused to pin the loss on Marte.

“We're not perfect, it's frustrating of course, but there are 15 other things that happened in this game that are still eating at me right now and we'll address them one by one,” Lovullo said.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Arizona Diamondbacks' Jorge Barrosa reacts after getting picked off firstbase in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, July 17, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Riley O'Brien celebrates after defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks during a baseball game, Friday, July 17, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte reacts after a wild pitch in the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Sunday, July 5, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)