"I remember him having some pop in spring training," said Baker. "It is a matter of learning to channel and control that pop versus seeing him surprisingly pop one.

"His focus and concentration must be better to not foul off or miss pitches too much. I just don't want him to get pop-conscious. The one he hit so hard to the opposite field shows he doesn't have to be pop-conscious. That means you have the strength to do it and you don't have to pull it.

"Guys get home run-itis, which is a bad disease. I had it. Lot of people get it, especially when you're young and in a small ballpark. I was in Atlanta ('The Launching Pad') when I was a kid. It is almost better if you can get to a small ballpark when you are an older player instead of as a younger player."

REDS 8, PIRATES 6: Ramon Ramirez, pitching in relief of Jason Fogg, who gave up five runs in three innings, threw three perfect innings and the Reds pecked away with one run in each of innings two through six, then put the game away in the eighth with three runs. Joey Votto's bases-loaded single broke a 6-6 tie.