first impressions

Zack Cozart and Jonathan Papelbon will remember their first on-field meeting, though Papelbon might rather forget it. Cozart, the former Ole Miss standout, hit the first pitch he saw from Mississippi State alumnus Papelbon — a 94 mph fastball — out of Citizens Bank Park in the ninth inning on Tuesday night. Cozart’s 14th home run of the year broke a tie and propelled his Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 win over Papelbon’s Philadelphia Phillies. Their college careers did not coincide, so this was their first encounter. Cozart had a plan against the veteran pitcher. “Any guy that has a fastball like that, you don’t want to fall behind,” Cozart told mlb.com. Papelbon, who has not fared well in non-save opportunities, took the loss to fall to 3-5. It was the fifth homer he has allowed this season. He is 27-for-30 in save chances but that’s small consolation in the Phillies’ disappointing year. Coazrt’s Reds, on the other hand, have opened up a 7 1/2-game lead in the National League Central. P.S. Former UM star Seth Smith returned to the Oakland lineup and went 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs as the A’s, chasing Texas in the American League West, beat Minnesota 4-1.