THE San Francisco Giants will look to extend their seven-game winning streak when they oppose the collapse Reds Wednesday in Game 3 of a four-game series at Cincinnati
THE giants have paid close attention to detail during their streak, which is the longest streak of active hits in the majors
In the ninth inning of their sixth straight victory, a 4-2 triumph in 10 innings over the Reds at the end of a suspended game on Tuesday, San Francisco submarining reliever Tyler Rogers started his move before turning around and clinching Reds the Elly De La Cruz phenom as the rookie took the lead at second base
“Controlling the running game from the bench is something we’ve worked so hard on and we know controlling the running game wins games,” giants said manager Gabe Kapler. “Having a salable indoor move that baserunners will actually buy into is a priority for us.
“Obviously he’s one of the fastest, if not the fastest baserunner in the game, and you want to keep him where he is. On third base, he gets even more dangerous. Clearing that baserunner has maybe was the most important moment of the game.”
San Francisco built on that success in the regular game later Tuesday night, beating Cincinnati 11-10.
THE giants will send Ross Stripling (0-2, 6.11 ERA) to the mound, the right-hander looking for his first victory in a San Francisco uniform. Stripling will make his ninth start and 14th appearance of the season
In his last outing, Stripling allowed two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings in a no-decision in Pittsburgh on Friday. In four career appearances (two starts) against Cincinnati, he has no decisions and a 4.63 ERA.
THE Reds, losers of six straight games, will counter with one of their best pitchers, Graham Ashcraft (4-7, 5.95). In his last start, the right-hander allowed just one run and five hits over six innings while suffering a 1-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday.
Ashcraft dominated the giants as a rookie in 2022, going 2-0 with a 1.26 ERA in two starts. He allowed just two runs and 10 hits in 14 1/3 innings
THE Reds suffered another blow to his rotation Tuesday night when Luke Weaver took a Michael Conforto line drive to the back of his left (non-pitching) arm. X-rays were negative, but Weaver’s status for his next departure is uncertain
THE Reds used five relievers in the suspended game loss and six more in Game 2 after Weaver’s third inning exit, leaving the pitching staff in need of reinforcements
On the bright side for Cincinnati, Joey Votto hit his 350th career homer and star prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit his first in the nightcap.
The four-home run, 14-hit game was a much-needed breakthrough for a Cincinnati offense that had scored just five runs in the previous five games.
“These periods where you don’t score, that’s a major league season,” Votto said. “We’re going to keep doing it. It’s not a clubhouse where guys think about that kind of stuff. Go out and play with joy and play with intensity and play to win.”
–Field-Level Media
