Andrew Abbott and four relievers combined on a seven-hitter, Stuart Fairchild homered and the Cincinnati Reds held on to beat the host San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Friday night to snap an eight-game losing streak.
Elly De La Cruz followed two hits with stolen bases that led to runs as the Reds spoiled the opener of San Francisco’s nine-game homestand.
Getting a solo homer from Thairo Estrada and an RBI single from Tyler Fitzgerald to overcome De La Cruz’s first single/steal/run combination, the Giants led 2-1 before the Reds’ star shortstop did it again in the third.
This time, his speed pressured Fitzgerald, the Giants’ substitute center fielder after an injury to Austin Slater, into an error on a single, putting De La Cruz on second. He then quickly stole third and came home on a Spencer Steer single.
Cincinnati never trailed again, thanks to Abbott (2-4) getting through five innings while limiting the Giants to two runs on six hits. He walked one and struck out two.
The left-hander had been 0-3 in his last four starts.
Emilio Pagan, Justin Wilson, Lucas Sims and Alexis Diaz took it from there, recording 12 outs among the final 14 batters, allowing just one hit and one walk.
The walk came to Mike Yastrzemski with two outs in the ninth, but Diaz struck out Blake Sabol to wrap up his seventh save.
Fairchild’s homer, his second of the season, came in the eighth off the second Giants pitcher, Erik Miller, to increase the lead to 4-2. It was his second home run in his last seven games after having not had one in his first 21.
Giants starter Logan Webb (3-4) went seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and eight hits. In losing his third straight start, he walked two and struck out six.
Steer finished with two hits and two RBIs for the Reds, who were opening a 10-game trip after having gone 0-6 on a homestand that ended Sunday.
Heliot Ramos collected a single and a double for the Giants, who were outhit 9-7. Estrada’s homer was his sixth of the season.
–Field Level Media
