Drury continues career year, keys three-run homer in win

PHOENIX -- Brandon Drury has gone from non-roster invitee in the midst of Reds Spring Training to being one of the club's most dependable offensive threats and, quite possibly, a worthy All-Star contender.

It was Drury's game-tying three-run home run that got the Reds back in business during Monday night's 5-4 win over the D-Backs at Chase Field.

"He cares a lot about what he does," said third baseman Mike Moustakas, who provided the go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning. "He cares a lot about his craft and he works at it. He comes in every day ready to work, and he plays the game the right way. He’s a great teammate and a great baseball player, and it’s been fun to watch him have success this year."

Arizona took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning against starter Mike Minor. In the top of the fifth with one out against D-backs starter Merrill Kelly, Chris Okey notched his first Major League hit with a single to center field. Nick Senzel followed with a four-pitch walk.

On a 1-0 changeup from Kelly, Drury lifted it to the seats in left-center field for his team-leading 12th homer of the season. It also extended his career-high hitting streak to 12 games.

"Any time they do something like that you’ve got to go back out there and not let the team down," said Minor, who pitched 6 1/3 innings en route to his first win as a Red. "That was the turning point of the game. He does that and they’re looking at me to help them out and keep them there."

Drury is batting .413 (19-for-46) with four homers during his hit streak. While with the Mets last season, he ditched an upper-cut style swing and went back to the line drive approach that made him successful earlier in his career as a member of the D-Backs.

The approach underwent another change more recently.

“I’ve been trying to let the ball travel [to me] a little bit more, not necessarily travel as far as hitting the ball to right field, but letting the ball get a little deeper on me and taking an aggressive swing," Drury explained. "I think that’s allowing me to pick up off-speed a little bit better and just see the ball better.

"I think I was on a little stretch last month where I was really trying to jump at everything. It didn’t feel great. I was trying to get the barrel out and pulling everything and it wasn’t very good at-bats. These last few weeks, I’m really trying to back the ball up, see it a little longer and then take my A-swing.”

The Reds signed Drury to a Minor League contract on March 21 and he earned a spot out of camp -- initially to be a utility infielder. He's become an indispensable hitter for manager David Bell.

“He’s been hitting second in our lineup basically every single game," Bell said. "I can’t remember the last game he didn’t. It’s such an important part of our lineup. We have Tommy Pham and Joey [Votto] hitting behind him. He’s just a really big part of our team in every way.”

On this year's All-Star ballot, Drury is the Reds' candidate for third base while the incumbent at the position -- Moustakas -- is listed with the designated hitters. Drury played third base, especially when Moustakas was on the injured list. He has also played second base and on Monday, served as the DH with Moustakas playing third base upon being activated from the COVID-19 IL.

In the sixth inning, right after Matt Reynolds stole second base, it was Moustakas who played the hero.

"I felt good at the plate today all day," Moustakas said. "I put some good at-bats together and I’ve been putting some good at-bats together even before I went on the IL. It always feels good to help win a ballgame, but today was a good one."

Overall, Drury is batting .276 with an .861 OPS on the year, leading the club in OPS, runs and slugging and is second with 33 RBIs.

"There’s a lot of season left," Drury said. "I’m excited to keep proving myself, for sure. We’ve still got a lot of games left but I’m looking forward to it for sure.”