Reds 13th-inning error sends Royals to 3-1 win

“There’s a big difference”, the right-hander said with catching coach Pedro Grifol interpreting. “All I can tell you is I had a bad day”.

“I don’t like to make excuses”, he said.

Greg Holland finished for his 27th save. He is 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA in four games, including two home starts in which he’s allowed just one run over 17 innings.

“He kept the line moving all night long”, manager Ned Yost said of Zobrist. “He’s become a pretty big piece for us”.

The Reds (51-67) had the tying and go-ahead runs on base with two outs in the ninth, but Wade Davis fanned Votto for his 10th save.

“You never know when you’re going to need a guy three or four days in a row”, Price said. Cain was ruled safe on the rundown that started with Salvador Perez’s grounder to second baseman Brandon Phillips, but Cain was ruled out after a replay review that lasted just under 3 1-2 minutes. Guthrie’s best start of the season came against Cincinnati on May 20, when he scattered five hits over six scoreless innings to earn a win.

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez (7) rounds the bases with a solo home run off Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Edinson Volquez during the first inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, August 18, 2015, in Cincinnati. The 2014 National League Cy Young runner-up has already established himself as a capable innings eater and control master with four quality starts, 21 strikeouts and a 0.93 WHIP after four starts with the Royals. Rodriguez extended his major league record for grand slams, hitting the 25th of his career into the Yankees bullpen off J.R. Graham (0-1) to put New York up 5-4.

Cueto faced the inevitable questions before his first game back.

Royals: INF Omar Infante was available to play Wednesday after being scratched from Tuesday’s starting lineup with back spasms.

“Yordano doesn’t take his eyes off (Cueto) when he’s pitching”, Yost said.

Reds: Hamilton left the game after the 11th inning with a jammed left shoulder he sustained while trying to make a diving, backhanded catch on Escobar’s sinking liner. That was fine by Reds manager Bryan Price, who wasn’t emotionally prepared to see Cueto on the mound pitching for another team.

Such was the case on Wednesday when the bases were loaded with Reds in the fifth inning as the Royals led, 4-3.