Dateline: Cincinnati
Sal Stewart hit two three-run home runs in the first two innings to launch the Reds to an 8-3 win, taking the first two games from the San Francisco Giants.
The Reds treated their old teammate, Tyler Mahle, very disrespectfully in the first inning. It was the first time he faced the Reds since leaving in the trade with Minnesota.
TJ Friedl, one of Mahle's old mates, singled to open the bottom of the first. Matt McLain walked. Mahle struck out Elly De La Cruz looking. Stewart lined his sixth home run of the season into the right field bleachers.
Eugenio Suarez followed with a home run into the seats in right.It was Suarez' 192nd home run as a Red, breaking a tie with Brandon Phillips, who will enter the team's Hall of Fame on April 25, for 12th place. He is six behind Barry Larkin's 198 for 11th place.
Tyler Stephenson and Tony Santillan were with Mahle on the Reds when he was traded for Spencer Steer in August 2022. Steer lined a pitch off Mahle to record a single. Mahle struck out Stephenson to end the inning.
The Giants got off the mat in the second inning against Rhett Lowder. Matt Chapman singled and Jung Hoo Lee walked. Daniel Susac doubled inside the third base bag into the right field corner to score both runners.
"That second inning, he gave up an 0-2 hit and a walk but he was pretty good," Francona said. "He just threw the ball really well."
Stewart struck again in the second inning. With two outs, McLain and De La Cruz walked. Stewart hit his second three-run home run of the game to give him seven on the season, three is the series.
"I am happy I had a good day. But it is over now. We have to come back tomorrow and get a sweep. What I did today, won't help me tomorrow," Stewart said.
He has three home runs in two games all to right center.
"I can be as complete as I can be when I'm using the whole field," Stewart said. "I try to stay gap to gap right center to left center. I feel like that allows me if I'm late, I shoot it to right. If I'm early, I hook it to left. It makes me a complete hitter. I'm glad I got a good pitch to hit and stuck with my game plan."
"He is driving the ball the other way and getting rewarded," Terry Francona said. "That's a good recipe."
De La Cruz joined the party with a 442 foot rocket to straight away center field. It was his sixth home run of the season.
"I'm feeling really good, really comfortable," De La Cruz said. "I try to get better every time. There is always something to get better at. Everybody is bringing good energy and good vibes. We have no pressure even on bad days."
It ended the torture for Mahle who finished four innings, allowing eight runs on eight hits and five walks. Four of the eight hits were home runs. Mahle struck out six. He has given up 65 home runs at Great American Ball Park over his career.
Lowder retired 12 Giants batters in a row before Luis Arraez singled with one in the sixth inning. He was quickly erased when Casey Schmitt hit into a double play.
Lowder gave up a leadoff single to Rafael Devers in the seventh. He retired the next two hitters on hard outs, then Susac's second hit put runners on first and third.
"The ball was coming out a lot better. I was executing a lot better," Lowder said. "I was getting ahead and the times I didn't I was able to throw soft stuff in there and get weak contact. I flipped a couple counts. That was huge for me."
Brock Burke came in and gave ups singles to pinch hitters Heliot Ramos and Jerar Encarnacion for one run. Willy Adames struck out for the fourth time with the bases loaded.
Lowder was charged with the three runs on five hits, one walk and four strikeouts.
Graham Ashcraft pitched a scoreless eighth. Pierce Johnson started the night in a non-save situation. He gave up a leadoff double to Lee but stranded him on third base to end the game.
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