San Francisco Giants catcher Patrick Bailey (left) sets up to put the tag on Cincinnati Reds base runner Luke Maile (22) in the bottom of the fourth inning at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Thu Jul 20, 2023 (AP News photo)

Four-Game Split For Giants Losing to Reds 5-1

By Barbara Mason

Thursday afternoon the San Francisco Giants (53-43) were not only looking to get back on track but to also win the series having won the first two games. The Cincinnati Reds (52-46) was aiming to tie up the four game series. The Giants were defeated in the getaway day matinee 5-1 at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati.

Cincinnati struck first putting two runs up on the scoreboard in the third inning for the 2-0 lead. The Reds Luke Maile homered with Will Benson on base.

The Reds would add to their lead in the fourth inning. Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled Jonathan India home and next up Will Benson doubled. Encarnacion-Strand scored for a 4-0 Cincinnati lead.

The Reds would top it off in the fifth inning with an India single. Jake Fraley scored giving the Reds a 5-0 lead.

Cincinnati would not score for the remainder of the game. This would have been a shut-out for the Reds had it not been for a Wilmer Flores home run in the ninth inning.

It was all Reds in this game as they split the series with the Giants. Cincinnati had 12 hits and the Giants had two. Reds pitchers Andrew Abbott and Derek Law combined for the two-hitter. Abbott went eight innings allowing one hit. Law allowed the one hit and the Flores home run.

It was tough going for San Francisco starting pitcher Alex Cobb. He allowed nine hits and five runs without a single strike-out.

Giant notes: On Wednesday the Cincinnati Reds snapped the San Francisco Giants seven-game winning streak. The Reds held onto a 3-2 lead through the eighth and ninth innings for the win.

The Giants will be taking on the Nationals Friday night in Washington for a three-game series. Alex Wood (4-3 ERA 4.53) will be the starting pitcher for the Giants and Jake Irvin (2-5 ERA 4.96)will take the mound for the Nationals. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05pm PT.