The Reds played like a machine, while the Rockies played in a purple haze on Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.

Fresh off a three-game sweep against the Mets in New York, the Rockies were looking to stay hot. Instead, defensive miscues early and a 1-for-11 performance with runners in scoring position cost them in a 7-2 loss.

The Reds, winners of 10 of their last 13 games, improved to 19-10. The Rockies slipped to 13-17.

Key moments: Rockies lefty Kyle Freeland, coming off the injured list, had a rough first inning, but it wasn’t all of his own making. He issued a leadoff walk to Dane Myers, but had him picked off, only to see first baseman Troy Johnston drop the ball. Then Elly De La Cruz dumped an RBI bloop single behind Johnston into shallow right field. Next came Freeland’s one big mistake. He left a pitch middle-up to Spencer Steer, who smashed it for a two-run homer. At that point, Steer was 3 for 8, with three homers off Freeland (five innings, four runs on five hits, one walk, four strikeouts).

Colorado hung around until the eighth when Cincinnati ripped reliever Tanner Gordon for three runs on five hits, including a two-run homer by Cruz.

Who’s hot: Colorado’s Edouard Julien continued to rake from the leadoff spot, going 3 for 4 with a walk and a solo home run in the second. Julien is hitting .308 and has driven in 12 runs. Rookie TJ Rumfield, who was the designated hitter on Tuesday, hit 2 for 4 with a double and a single. He’s hitting .260.

Who’s not: Shortstop Ezequiel Tovar remains stuck in the worst slump of his career. Tovar’s 0-for-4 night included a strikeout with two runners on in the eighth. Tovar’s average is down to .193. He is batting .068 (2-for-29) over his last nine games.

Worth noting: Mickey Moniak, who started in center field, went 1 for 5 and struck out twice, but he singled in the eighth to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.

Injury update: Right-handed starter Ryan Feltner played catch Tuesday and began working his way back to the rotation. The hope is that he won’t have to go to the minors on a rehab assignment. Feltner left his last start against the Padres at Coors Field last Thursday with what was diagnosed as right ulnar nerve inflammation. He’s eligible to come off the IL on May 9.

Pitching probables

Wednesday: Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (2-1, 3.42 ERA) at Reds LHP Brandon Williamson (2-2, 5.40), 4:40 p.m.
Thursday: Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-2, 5.97) at Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (0-2, 6.59), 10:40 a.m.
TV: Rockies.TV
Radio: KOA 850 AM & 94.1 FM

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