CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Reds' Jeimer Candelario has been on fire throughout the month of June, and not even a knee injury could slow him down. Candelario credits the team's medical staff for their assistance, as they have been treating his tendinitis with heating pads and electro-therapy, allowing him to continue playing at a high level.

During Friday's game against the Red Sox, Candelario showcased his resilience by hitting a pair of solo home runs, helping secure the Reds' 5-2 victory in the series opener at Great American Ball Park. Describing the trainers' efforts, Candelario expressed gratitude, saying, "The trainers are doing a really good job putting me in the lineup. They're putting me in a good position to help my team win. That's what I came here for, to be in the lineup every day - no matter what."

This impressive month for Candelario, who joined the Reds as a free agent in December, has seen him bat .347 with a 1.087 OPS, eight homers, and 17 RBIs in 18 June games. In April, Candelario struggled with a batting average of just .159 and two homers, but he has since raised his overall average nearly 100 points to .255 with a team-leading 14 homers.

Teammate Jonathan India commended Candelario's recent performance, stating, "The momentum he has right now is incredible. It's special to watch. He's taking over right now. He works very hard too, so he deserves this all. He's not stopping any time soon."

Although Candelario's knee issue forced him out of a game earlier in the week, manager David Bell made smart decisions by utilizing him as the designated hitter on Friday. Bell acknowledged the challenge of juggling players' desires to be on the field while ensuring their long-term health, saying, "Every single guy wants to play no matter what. We have to be a little extra smart to make sure we don't put them in situations to get hurt worse because it's a long season."

During the game, Candelario wasted no time, hitting a two-out homer in the first inning to give the Reds an early lead. Despite a couple of response homers from the Red Sox, Candelario lifted another high fastball to right field in the third inning, securing the victory for the Reds.

Candelario's impressive display of power has earned him two multi-homer games this month, a feat not seen from a Reds batter since Joey Votto in September 2021. Commenting on his approach, Candelario attributed his success to positioning himself to swing at mistakes in the strike zone.

On the pitching side, Reds starter Andrew Abbott delivered an excellent performance, pitching 5 2/3 innings with 10 strikeouts and allowing only two earned runs. In 15 starts this season, Abbott holds a 6-6 record with a 3.40 ERA.

The Reds' victory was further solidified by two additional runs in the seventh inning, courtesy of TJ Friedl's squeeze bunt that resulted in an error by Red Sox reliever Cam Booser.

After a challenging road trip, which included losses in four out of their last five games, the Reds found their stride once again with Candelario's support, combining his power hitting with small ball tactics. Second baseman Jonathan India shared his optimism, stating, "The offense has been pretty solid the last month. We're getting better every game."

Candelario's contributions have been invaluable to the Reds, and it remains to be seen how his hot streak will continue in the upcoming games. With his determination and the support of the team's medical staff, Candelario is poised to make a lasting impact on the Reds' success this season.