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Reds return 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand from IL


The Cincinnati Reds reinstated first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand from the injured list Friday, and he homered in his first game back.

Encarnacion-Strand hit a game-tying solo shot in the sixth inning against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. The contest was suspended at the end of that inning due to rain with the score 3-3.

Encarnacion-Strand, 25, has been out for six weeks with a back injury after batting .158 with two home runs and five RBIs in 15 games. In 107 games for the Reds over the past three seasons, he is batting .234 with 18 home runs and 59 RBIs.

The Reds cleared a spot for Encarnacion-Strand on the active roster by designating catcher Austin Wynns for assignment.

Wynns, 34, was 16-for-40 (.400) in 18 games and has been one of three Reds catchers since Tyler Stephenson returned from an oblique injury May 2. Wynns last played May 28 and last had a plate appearance on May 23.

In seven seasons with five different clubs, Wynns is a career .241 hitter with 16 home runs and 74 RBIs in 256 games.