Photo credit: @SFGiants
By Jeremy Kahn
It seems that the San Francisco Giants just love to comeback from huge deficits, and once again they did it to the Cincinnati Reds.
After falling behind 4-0 in the bottom of the first inning, the lead was not safe for the Reds and when Brandon Crawford launched a two-run home run into the right field seats, the Giants came all the way from that 4-0 deficit to defeat the Reds 6-5 at Great American Ballpark.
The Reds jumped on Jeff Samardzija in the bottom of the first inning, as Samardzija gave up back-to-back-to-back home runs and then Samardzija was literally perfect for the rest of his outing.
Eugenio Suarez, Jesse Winker and Derek Dietrich hit home runs on three straight pitches to give the Reds a 4-0 lead at the end of the first inning.
It was the second time this season that the Reds went back-to-back-to-back, as they did it on April 9, as the recently released Matt Kemp, Suarez and Scott Schelber. All hit home runs off of Wei-Yin Chen of the Miami Marlins also at the Great American Ballpark.
The Giants began to chip at the lead in the top of the sixth inning, as Joe Panik hit an opposite-field single to score Steven Duggar, who singled to center to break up Luis Castillos no-hit bid after Kevin Pillar struck out to lead off the inning.
With the base hit by Duggar, brought on Stephen Vogt off the bench, who walked just prior to the Panik single to left field.
After Mike Gerber struck out for the second out for the second out of the inning, Buster Posey tied up the game, as he hit a three-run home run off of reigning National League Pitcher of the Month Castillo, who came into the game with a 3-1 record with a 1.45 earned run average.
Castillo ended up with a no-decision, as he went seven innings, allowing four runs on four hits, walking two and striking out nine.
Samardzija, who was in trouble after the first inning, when he gave those four runs, ended up not allowing a base hit after the first inning and retired the final 13 batters he faced after allowing a base hit to Jose Peraza.
In all, Samardzija went five innings, allowing four runs on five hits, not walking a batter and striking out four.
Once again, the Giants bullpen was dynamic, the quartet of Trevor Gott, Reyes Moronta, Tony Watson and Will Smith allowed just one run on one hit, walking two and striking out five.
Moronta got into a jam in his only inning of work, as he walked the bases loaded, but was able to strikeout Suarez with the bases loaded to end the inning and the Reds threat.
Watson pitched the eighth inning to pick up his first win of the season, while Will Smith picked up his ninth save of the season.
Reds closer Raisel Iglesias came on in the top of the ninth inning, as he gave up a double to Posey, and then Crawford, who came off the bench to get his first home run of the season to give the Giants their only lead of the game.
Smith came on in the bottom of the ninth inning and after getting the first two outs, and then two strikes on Kyle Farmer, who then hit a solo home run to get the Reds within one. Tucker Barnhart ended the game, as he grounded out to Crawford to end the game.
NOTES: With the Reds and Major League Baseball celebrating 150 years this season, the Reds are wearing throwback uniforms from different eras of Reds history.
One night after wearing jerseys that represented the 1902 team, the Reds wore uniforms from the 1911 season on Sunday afternoon.
Derek Holland is expected to be activated from the injured list prior to his scheduled start on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Holland is currently on the 10-day injured list with a bone bruise on his left index finger.
UP NEXT: Drew Pomeranz closes out the series on Monday afternoon, as he will face the Reds for the first time since the 2016 season.
Anthony DeSclafani will take the mound for the Reds in the finale.
