ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- A nine-game losing streak may have taken the Cincinnati Reds to 10 games below .500, but wins like Monday's give them hope for meaningful baseball as they continue a three-game interleague series at Tropicana Field.
"I don't know if I've ever been a part of a stretch like that, and I hope I'm never part of a stretch like that again," said Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who had three hits in a 7-3 win against the Rays. "It's good to start momentum in the opposite direction."
The Reds (30-39) will try to do that Tuesday with a pitcher who hasn't had any positive momentum -- rookie left-hander Amir Garrett, who has a 9.