|
 In the end, quantity mattered, especially with their own All-Star
candidate, Johnny Cueto, on the mound.
Center fielder Billy Hamilton contributed a two-run single to a
six-hit, five-run fifth inning and Cueto won his third consecutive
decision with 8 1/3 strong innings, lifting the Reds to a second
straight win over the Giants with a 6-2 victory.
In winning for the ninth time in their last 12 games, the Reds
assured themselves of a seventh consecutive non-losing series with
back-to-back wins to open the four-game series.
"It's not always going to be Joey (Votto) and Jay (Bruce) and Rocco
(Devin Mesoraco) getting the big hits," said Reds shortstop Zack
Cosart, who for the second night in a row added to the Cincinnati
attack with an RBI single. "We have a bunch of good hitters in the
lineup."
The Reds' win followed the announcement of the signing of Cuban
right-hander Raisel Iglesias to a reported seven-year, $27 million
contract. The 24-year-old Iglesias, who has defected to Haiti, is
expected to join the Reds at the start of next season.
Hamilton's hit was one of six the Reds had against Bumgarner (9-5)
in the five-run fifth inning after the teams had been scoreless
through four innings. Cosart, third baseman Todd Frazier and Bruce
also had RBI hits in the uprising, which featured only one
extra-base hit -- an inning-opening double by Mesoraco.
"Bumgarner has given us trouble. He's very, very good," Reds manager
Bryan Price said. "The guys went in there with a good approach, a
good plan of attack. We took advantage of the few mistakes he
(Bumgarner) made."
Frazier had three of Cincinnati's 12 hits while extending his
hitting streak against the Giants to 14 games. He is hitting .462
(24-for-52) over that stretch.
Hamilton added three singles for the Reds and Bruce had two on a
night when he nonetheless saw his streak of seven consecutive games
with an extra-base hit halted.
"The month of June has been good for us," said Price, whose club has
the most wins in the majors (18) since May 30. "We're just getting
good at-bats up and down the lineup. We've been patiently waiting
for it."
In nearly going the distance for the fourth time this season, Cueto
(8-5) allowed both Giants runs, three hits and two walks. He struck
out three.
Left-handed closer Aroldis Chapman relieved Cueto with two on and
one out in the ninth and retired both men he faced for his 16th
save, getting a nice defensive play from Cosart at shortstop to
short-circuit a potential Giants rally.
"It's been frustrating at times when he's pitched well and we
haven't scored runs for him," Cosart said of Cueto, whose has a 1.98
ERA in five career starts against the Giants. "When you've got your
horse on the mound, getting five runs (in one inning) is big. You
don't want to coast, but you know it gives you a great chance to
win."
Pinch-hitter Tyler Colvin did the Giants' only real damage against
Cueto, ending his shutout bid in the sixth with an RBI triple that
scored second baseman Brandon Hicks. Colvin eventually scored on
right fielder Hunter Pence's infield out, temporarily getting the
Giants back within three at 5-2.
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Bruce's second RBI single, off Giants right-handed reliever Yusmeiro
Petit, scored Frazier and upped the lead to 6-2, completing the
scoring.
"I wouldn't call it a team-wide slump," Colvin said after the Giants
lost for the 10th time in their last 12 home games, a stretch in
which they've been outscored 60-36. "It just doesn't seem like we
can string hits together like they did tonight. They didn't hit the
ball that hard."
Bumgarner left for a pinch hitter after having given up nine hits
and season-high-tying five runs in six innings. He walked one and
struck out three.
The Giants, leaders of the National League West, lost for the ninth
time in their last 13 games. Their 4-9 record during that stretch is
the worst in the majors.
Despite having allowed three singles, Bumgarner had faced just one
batter above the minimum through four innings before the fateful
fifth.
After Cosart's one-out single plated Mesoraco to open the scoring,
the inning took on greater life when the Giants failed to get an out
on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Cueto. Catcher Buster Posey threw
late to third in an attempt to force out left fielder Chris Heisey,
allowing Cueto to reach safely to load the bases with still just one
out.
Then came the avalanche of hits, with Hamilton's bloop single over a
drawn-in infield scoring two runs to increase the lead to 3-0.
Frazier and Bruce added run-scoring singles, capping the
game-changing assault.
NOTES: Once visa issues are resolved in Haiti, the Reds are expected
to send Cuban RHP Raisel Iglesias to their academy in the Dominican
Republic, with an eye on having him at spring training next
February. Iglesias, projected by the Reds as a starter, allowed two
runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings of relief at the World Baseball
Classic last spring. ... OF Roger Bernadina became a free agent
Friday after refusing the Reds' outright assignment to Triple-A
Louisville. Bernadina, who hit .153 in 44 games this season, was
designated for assignment last weekend. ... The Reds went 6-for-11
with runners in scoring position. Since June 1, Cincinnati has
recorded a National League-best .333 batting average under those
circumstances. ... The five-run fifth inning marked the fourth time
Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner has allowed at least five runs in an
inning in his career. ... Giants LHP Madison Bumgarner picked off
two Reds baserunners in the first inning. The last Giant to
accomplish that feat was LHP Bud Black on May 15, 1992.
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