Giants Spoil Reds First Night Game With A Late Rally

Chris Shaw hit a long two-run home run off Ordrisamer Despaigne to give the San Francisco Giants a 5-3 win over the Reds on Friday night, the first night game for the Reds.  The blast gave the Giants a 5-3 win.

Jesse Winker showed new power with his repaired shoulder for the second game in a row Winker reached the seats with a blast.  This time an opposite field home run off Madison Bumgarner.

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Phillip Ervin hit a long home run, his second of the spring, off Mark Melancon.

Tyler Mahle pitched two innings.  He survived two hits with two outs and struck out the side in the second inning.  Mahle has been working to improve his breaking pitches.

"It went well.  (Juan) Graterol worked well together.  That was the first time he caught me," Mahle said.  "The 0-2 to Buster Posey was a curveball (Posey singled) I left up.  Other than that they were all pretty good.  I threw more breaking balls in the first inning.  I threw one split and one curve in the second inning.  My fastball was good.  It was running on me a little in my last outing."

"Mahle was really pounding the strike zone," David Bell said.  "He was coming right after hitters. He had good velocity and had good off speed to go with it."

Nick Senzel, who is learning the center field position, had a hard time getting to the ball hit by Posey.

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He singled in three at bats.

"It is one of those things we talked about," Bell said.  "There are things that are going to come up in a game.  You never want to see guys not make plays but at the same time, it's probably a good thing. It is just a different environment, a night game, seeing different plays.  He will learn from it. This is a tough sky to play on a good day.  I was just thinking about this.  This is the first time he's been
in the outfield for a night game. It's something different."

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Ervin singled in his first at bat and doubled his third time up to go 3-for-3.  He is in a battle for playing time with Matt Kemp and Nick Senzel for the fourth outfield spot.  If Senzel doesn't win the starting center field job, he will likely start the season in Louisville, learning center field on the job.  That would leave an outfield of Winker, Scott Schebler, Kemp and Yasiel Puig.  The Reds will carry a four-man bench most of the time.  One spot is for the backup catcher, leaving three up for grabs.

"Ervin looks great. It's early but he looks locked in.  He's playing with a lot of confidence," Bell said.

Kyle Farmer, who tripled in three at bats, is hitting .556 for the spring.  That isn't the most impressive thing he's done to make a bid for a bench job.

"We've been impressed with Farmer," David Bell said.  "More than anything it is his versatility.  We had heard that about him but you watch him out at shortstop and a day later, he's behind the plate.  He has such a good idea of what he's doing behind the plate.  It is pretty unique."

Farmer started at third base against the Giants.

Zach Duke allowed a hit and a walk with a run scoring on a wild pitch. Jared Hughes pitched a scoreless inning.

Amir Garrett walked two which caused problems when Cameron Rupp doubled,scoring two runs to put the Giants ahead.

Connor Joe struck out but reached on a wild pitch.  Tyler Stephenson sent him to third with a single.  Kyle Wren's sacrifice fly tied the score.

Lefty Buddy Boshers pitched and Jackson Stephens pitched scoreless innings.