Cincinnati Reds
Rolen makes himself at home
By Staff Report, CNATI.com Posted June 2, 2010 12:51 AM ET
By Jim Rodenbush
Special to CNati.com
ST. LOUIS -- Scott Rolen has hit plenty of home runs at the new Busch Stadium since the ballpark opened in 2006.
But before Tuesday night's game, he had yet to go deep as a visiting player.
Rolen homered in his first two at-bats to help send the Cincinnati Reds to a 9-8 victory over the Cardinals and back into sole possession of first place in the National League Central division.
"Scotty had a big night," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He got us on the board. Boy that was an outstanding game."
Rolen's big night began in the first inning. After Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto singled with one out, Rolen launched a 384-foot home run off Cardinals starter P.J. Walters into the left field seats for a 3-0 lead.
That home run was Rolen's first at the new Busch Stadium since he was traded from the Cardinals to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Troy Glaus following the 2007 season. He now has 18 career home runs at the ballpark, moving him past Jim Edmonds into fifth place all-time.
"I kind of downplay that point," Rolen said. "We're trying to win games, and that gave us a 3-0 lead. It's a big deal in that we got up early in the first inning."
Votto homered with two outs in the third, and Rolen immediately followed with a shot of his own into the Cincinnati bullpen that put the Reds up 5-3. The multi home run game was Rolen's third this season, all coming on the road. He has 22 multi-homer games in his career.
"You get on a roll, you get some balls over the middle of the plate, and you take good at-bats," Rolen said. "That's the key in my opinion. You go up and try to take good at-bats."
Rolen added a double in the fifth and finished with three hits and four RBIs.
He admitted he still have some nerves coming back to St. Louis, where he played from 2002-07.
"I have some good memories, without a doubt," Rolen said. "Good fans, good people. There's a little anxiety, some anticipation still. I'll enjoy getting on the plane too."
Baker, for one, thinks playing the Cardinals provides some extra motivation for Rolen.
"Guys get fired up playing their former teams. I know I used to," Baker said. "Most players do. Scotty is so even-keel. You can't tell he's fired up. He hasn't said anything. He doesn't talk his game. He just plays."
Rolen continues to be a excellent investment for the Reds, who acquired the veteran before last season's trading deadline and gave him a contract extension in the offseason.
After injuries limited his production for most of the past three seasons, he is now back among the top power hitters in the N.L. His 13 home runs are second behind Milwaukee's Corey Hart and his 36 RBIs rank in the top 10.
"So far, so good," Rolen said. "We'll see how it goes. I'm healthy, that's for sure. I'm going to keep going out there and keeping swinging it. Hopefully, good things will happen."
His home run total is also his best in a single year since he hit 22 for the Cardinals in 2006. He hit eight home runs in 2007 and 11 in each of the past two seasons.
"Rolen's healthy," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "He's an outstanding player when he's healthy. Their manager has probably gotten more out of him than I did. I know that's true."
Rolen and the Reds roughed up Walters, who was making his third appearance and second start of the season. The rookie right-hander allowed seven runs and eight hits in four innings, just five days after he threw five scoreless innings against the Padres and picked up his first career victory.
After the homes in the third, Orlando Cabrera added a two-run double in the fourth inning to increase the Cincinnati lead to 7-3. The Cardinals rallied for an 8-7 lead in the sixth before the Reds took back the lead for good with a pair of runs in the seventh.
Jonny Gomes' RBI single scored Votto and tied the game at 8-8. Drew Stubbs followed with a sacrifice fly which scored Jay Bruce.
With the win, the Reds (31-22) pulled one game ahead of the Cardinals (30-23). The teams finish their three-game series Wednesday night.
"I think we're a pretty good team," Rolen said. "I think there's two good teams playing here right now."
Categories: Cincinnati Reds, Featured Stories
Tags: Dusty Baker, Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, Scott Rolen, Tony La Russa
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