White Sox hit two home runs against Greene to beat Reds

The Reds led 3-0 when Elvis Andrus hit a three-run home run against Greene to tie the game in the fifth. Two innings later with the Reds leading 4-3, Greene gave up a go-ahead, two-run home run to Luis Robert Jr.

Greene had not allowed a home run in his last five starts, not since Opening Day, in fact, but the two home runs proved decisive in this game.

“It was kind of weird, frustrating night,” Greene said. “I felt like my fastball, even though the velocity was there later on in the game, didn’t have the same jump to it. My slot was dropping a little bit. Those balls in the first few innings had a lot of life to them. I feel like I lost that life, and those balls kind of didn’t have the same jump to it. Those were the balls that were hit, and obviously they put good swings on it, but the fastball definitely didn’t have the same life as the first few innings.”

Greene allowed a season-high five earned runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings.

“In the first three innings, he dominated with his fastball,” manager David Bell said. “His slider was really good. Then the Andrus home run came on a fastball up and in and off the plate. Just a great swing from Andrus. And then after that Hunter wasn’t as sharp.”

Greene’s ERA climbed from 2.79 to 3.74 in his seventh start of the season. He allowed one earned run in 14 innings in his last three starts. He said every pitcher deals with velocity issues.

“Every guy goes through waves of having their best stuff and having their not-so-great stuff,” Greene said. “It’s part of the game. It’s tough being a starting pitcher. You’re trying to go six, seven innings and every fastball be the best fastball you’ve ever thrown. It’s not going to happen. I think it’s important to recognize that and be able to check yourself mechanically on whatever those cues are for yourself and try and get back on track as quickly as possible.”

The Reds (13-19) suffered their fourth loss in the last five games. This stretch follows a season-best five-game winning streak. The White Sox (11-22), who own the fourth-worst record in baseball, have now won 22 of the last 31 games in the interleague series.

The Reds couldn’t capitalize on early offense. Kevin Newman scored on a double by TJ Friedl in the third. Singles by Jake Fraley and Nick Senzel brought in runs in the fourth as the Reds extended their lead to 3-0. Jonathan India hit a go-ahead home run in the fifth.

A ninth-inning rally fizzled fast. Fraley walked to lead off the inning but was doubled up on a fly ball to center field by Henry Ramos.

“He just got over-aggressive,” Bell said. “Off the bat, I thought I had a chance to fall in for a hit, and I think that’s what Jake read, and he didn’t recognize it in time to get back.”