San Francisco Giants starter Robbie Ray deals against the Cincinnati Reds line up in the bottom of the first inning at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati on Tue Apr 14, 2026 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

It was a battle between two teams struggling offensively. The Cincinnati Reds (10-7) won the battle in game one of the series 2-1. Cincinnati only had three hits in the game but two of them were home runs making all the difference in this game. San Francisco (6-11) had seven hits one of them a Willy Adames solo home run. He was the only Giant to cross home plate today.

Game recap: Lead off batter Willy Adames got on base but was thrown out attempting to steal second base for the second out of the first inning. When it looked like Matt Chapman had been thrown out, a review called him safe so San Francisco remained in the inning.

Rafael Devers flied out for the third out. Cincinnati came very close to hitting their first long ball of the game. When it looked as if the Reds Elly De La Cruz had knocked one out of the park it was caught at the wall. Matt McLain who had walked was thrown out trying to steal second base for the third out and the Giants had survived the first inning.

Going into the bottom of the third inning the game remained scoreless. The first hit of the night for the Reds was a Spencer Steer long ball to left center and Cincinnati was first up on the scoreboard 1-0.

Cincinnati would tack on another home run in the bottom of the fourth inning taking a 2-0 lead. The Reds rookie Sal Stewart hit his fifth home run of the season, a shot to right center. San Francisco pitcher Robbie Ray had six strikeouts, three walks and the only hits he allowed were the two home runs so far in the game. The Reds were really making Ray work hard through four innings.

Adames put an end to the possible shut-out hitting a second deck home run in the fifth inning cutting the Reds lead in half 1-2. This was his third home run of the year. Three home runs were the extent of the offense for the two teams.

Ray was relieved after five innings of work throwing 94 pitches He allowed two hits, two earned runs, four walks and had six strikeouts. He was relieved by Caleb Kilian in the sixth inning. The Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer went six innings. He allowed six hits, one earned run and one strikeout He was relieved in the seventh inning by Graham Ashcraft.

The Giants pitcher Caleb Kilian was relieved in the seventh by Keaton Winn. Winn breezed through the inning and this game went onto the eighth. Winn struck out two and allowed no hits, no runs and no walks. This game went into the latter innings and San Francisco needed to make a move. The Giants would face a new pitcher for the Reds, Tony Santillan in the top of the eighth inning.

Going into the ninth inning the Giants were down to their last three outs. Jung Hoo Lee would be the first battter in the inning trying to get something going for San Francisco. He already had two hits and would be looking for a third. Emilio Pagan would come in for the Reds to close out the game.

Lee would fly out, Heliot Ramos followed Lee and struck out and the Giants were down to their final out. Daniel Susac would be San Francisco’s last hope. He came close but a deep hit in the outfield was the third out right at the wall and the Reds had held on for the win 2-1.

Game notes: After losing a series to the Baltimore Orioles over the weekend, the Giants traveled to Cincinnati for a three-game series with the Reds Tuesday night. Both teams are suffering offensive woes; neither team is hitting very well at all.

Over the weekend the Giants really struggled at the plate losing both games to the Orioles. They looked for improvement offensively but could only muster one run. They tried to score early and often in Tuesday’s game. Giant starter Robbie Ray pitched five innings allowing two hits and two earned runs. Ray pitched well enough to win the game but once again didn’t get the run support.

The Giants will be looking to bounce back Wednesday in game two of the series. Probable pitcher for San Francisco in game two will be Tyler Mahle 0-2 win/loss record and a 4.30 ERA. Rhett Lowder will take the mound for Cincinnati with a 1-1 win/loss record and a 3.31 ERA. First pitch for this game is scheduled for 3:40 PM.