'I'm ready': India slugs 1st grand slam, finishes a triple shy 

CINCINNATI -- For both the reigning National League Rookie of the Year -- second baseman Jonathan India of the Reds -- and the 2021 runner-up -- pitcher Trevor Rogers of the Marlins -- their sophomore efforts have not come close to matching their debut seasons.

The two burgeoning stars met on Monday night at Great American Ball Park, and it was India who continued to seem most poised to change the narrative with his recent performances. His best showing of 2022 came during the Reds' 11-2 series-opening victory over Miami. As the designated hitter, India went 3-for-4 with a walk and delivered the first grand slam of his big league career. All that was lacking was the triple that would have meant hitting for the cycle.

"The longer you play, the better you’re going to get in this game," India said. "The more games I log, playing every day, I’ll get going. Hopefully that’s a sign I’ll get going. I feel good right now. I’m ready."

The biggest moment of India's night came in the fifth inning with the bases loaded against reliever Zach Pop. India slugged a 2-0 sinker into the second deck of seats in left field for his grand slam -- his sixth homer of the season.

"That guy had a good sinker and was throwing hard in," India said. "I tried to clip it at the right angle. It’s hard to hit those sinkerballers. I tried to get my hands through it as quick as possible. I got it there."

Against Rogers, who is now 4-10 with a 5.85 ERA in 19 starts, India opened the bottom of the first hitting a first-pitch four-seam fastball on the outside corner for a double to left field. On a similar pitch from Rogers in the three-run third inning, he hit a 104.7 mph single on the ground through the middle.

"I was definitely looking forward to facing him. He won it last year for a reason," Rogers said. "He had a really good approach today. He got me, so just tip your cap and hopefully I get to face him further along down the road and get to compete again."

India's lone chance to complete the cycle came while leading off the bottom of the seventh inning against reliever Jordan Holloway. India hit a 2-2 breaking ball to left field for the first out.

It would've been the first cycle by a Cincinnati player since Eric Davis on June 2, 1989. A triple was on India's mind, for sure.

"Oh my God, of course," he said. "I was thinking it the whole at-bat. I was hoping he dove for that ball [and] missed it. That was a good swing."

India led an offense that had no shortage of producers. After a two-out walk in the fourth inning, No. 2 hitter Brandon Drury supplied a three-run homer to make it a 6-2 game.

Drury's homer made for an easier night for Reds rookie starter Nick Lodolo, who turned in a career-high six innings and allowed two unearned runs on five hits, two walks and nine strikeouts.

"Especially, I think, ever since he's come back, I feel like he's kind of turned it on at least the last week I've noticed," Lodolo said of India. "Good for the team, it's good for him. But it's definitely good to see. You can see you can turn it around."

India was a lineup scratch from Sunday's win over the Cardinals with a left thigh contusion stemming from a hard headfirst slide at the plate on Saturday. He was spared a more serious injury after two stints on the injured list with a right hamstring strain cost him a combined 48 games earlier this season.

As a rookie, India slugged 21 homers with an .835 OPS and 69 RBIs, but this year the early injury took a toll. Although hitting only .220 in 32 games since returning from the IL, and .240 with a .695 OPS in 43 games overall, he's played well going into and coming out of the All-Star break. India has hit safely in nine of his past 10 games, with four homers, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored.

“I think Jon’s personality, he expected to step right back in at the Major League level and pick right up where he left off from last year," Reds manager David Bell said. "That’s what makes him good. At the same time, it’s still a really tough game and he had to play himself back into shape, back into the flow of timing, everything, everything to do with what makes this game challenging. It was just a matter of time. The more he’s played, the better he’s gotten."