Edgar Renteria Beats Former Mates with 13th Inning Hit in 4-3 Win over San Francisco

Edgar Renteria is the new clutch man for Cincinnati.  He got the 13th game winning hit of his career in the 13th inning to demolish the Reds four-game losing streak.

Brian Wilson was the hard luck losing pitcher.  Wilson walked Jay Bruce to start the 13th.  Miguel Cairo flied out to right.  Dusty Baker was out of players, so Jose Arredondo had to bat.  He was ordered to bunt but made an awful attempt so Baker took off the bunt.

"He didn't look very good," Baker said.

Arredondo was signed as a shortstop by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2004 but converted him to pitching in the Arizona Rookie League.  That was the last time he had a bat in his hands until the 13th inning against Wilson.

Arredondo had his own batting helmet but had to borrow a bat from Bronson Arroyo.

"I was surprised when they took the bunt off," Arredondo said through interpreter Tomas Vera. "I stepped out of the box to ask if they were sure."

Arredondo swung away and hit a high chop over Pablo Sandoval's head at third base.

"I was really, really happy when the ball went through," Arredondo said.

Edgar Renteria slashed a ball barely fair down the right field line, using body english to keep it fair.  It worked. The 2010 World Series MVP had beaten the team for which he got the big clutch hit, a three-run home run off Cliff Lee in the seventh inning of the fifth and deciding game of the World Series.

"It's always special because they are great guys," Arredondo said of the Giants. "We were lucky to win.  No matter who we play right now, we have to concentrate on winning ballgames.

The see saw game became a game of attrition.  The Reds used its entire bench when pinch hitter Todd Frazier flied to shallow left.  Nate Schierholtz caught the ball and nailed Joey Votto at the plate to end the bases loaded threat in the 10th.

Francisco Cordero was forced to pitch two innings.  He escaped a bases loaded jam in the 10th, striking out Mike Fontenot.

Guillermo Mota gave the Giants 2 2/3 tough innings, he induced Frazier's fly to extend the game.

San Francisco scored off starter Dontrelle Willis in the first inning within the first three batters.  Aaron Rowand doubled to start the game.  Willis hit Jeff Keppinger and newly acquired Carlos Beltran singled for his first hit and RBI in a Giant's uniform.

The Reds went up on Ryan Vogelsong with two runs of their own in the first.  Drew Stubbs singled.  Former Giant Fred Lewis doubled and Votto walked.  Brandon Phillips' sacrifice fly tied the contest.  Jay Bruce put the Reds up with a single.

Paul Janish was hit by a pitch leading off the second inning.  Willis singled, his third hit in three starts.  Stubbs legged out a potential double play ball to earn an RBI.

Willis held the Giants until the sixth.  A single and two walks filled the bases with no outs but Willis allowed just a sacrifice fly by Aubrey Huff to preserve the lead.

Bill Bray in his second inning gave up a run scoring double with two outs in the eighth.

Both bullpens took it from there.

Aroldis Chapman dazzled with two innings with four strikeout.  He has retired 25 of the last 26 batters he's faced.

"Our bullpen was extremely tired," Baker said. "Willis went deep in the game but it didn't work.  We had to use guys we wanted to stay away from.  They gutted it out.  They fought and fought and fought."