CINCINNATI—Matt Chapman hit his 17th home run, and saved a run with a terrific defensive play at third base as the San Francisco Giants broke open a close game late in an 8–2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday.
LaMonte Wade Jr. and Tyler Fitzgerald also homered for the Giants, who took two of three from the Reds in a series between teams on the fringes of contention in the National League wild-card race. The victory was the seventh in nine games for San Francisco.
“We’re off to a good start in the second half,” Giants Manager Bob Melvin said. “We have to play much better on the road if we’re going to end up going where we want to go.”
Robbie Ray (2–1), making his third start of the season after recovering from Tommy John surgery, allowed two runs on three hits in five innings. He struck out nine.
The Giants led 3–2 with two outs in the sixth when TJ Friedl hit a soft grounder to Chapman, who barehanded it and threw to first for the out, preventing Elly De La Cruz from scoring the tying run from third.
“It kind of came off the bat funky,“ Chapman said. ”It was slow. I knew it was a do-or-die play. I had to get a good grip on it. Once I got it, it I threw it as hard as I could from down there. It was nice to keep the lead in that situation.”
The Giants put the game out of reach with a five-run eighth that included Fitzgerald’s two-run homer and Michael Conforto’s two-run double.
Jeimer Candelario and Santiago Espinal hit back-to-back homers off Ray in the second inning to give the Reds a 2–0 lead. Candelario tied De La Cruz for the team lead in homers with 18.
“Honestly, even the two home runs, I felt they were pretty good pitches. Solo home runs aren’t going to beat you, especially in this park,” said Ray, a former American League Cy Young Award winner. “I got some good work in. Guys are going to hit home runs, even when you throw them exactly where you want to throw them. I feel like I’m getting close. Everything is starting to come together.”
Chapman tied it in the fourth with a two-run blast against Carson Spiers (4–3). Wade put San Francisco ahead when he took Spiers deep leading off the sixth.
Chapman surpassed his home run total from last season and has four homers, four doubles, and eight RBIs in his past 11 games.
“Last year I missed some time and hurt my hand a little bit,” Chapman said. “I expect myself to hit more home runs than that, for sure. When I’m healthy, I’m able to do things like that.”
Spiers, who had won four of his previous five decisions, allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Chapman and Wade both homered on first-pitch sinkers.
“The game plan was to get ahead of those guys,” Spiers said. “Both of those guys came out aggressive. ... The one to Chapman, my thought process was to get a double play. I was more mad about that.”
Trainer’s Room
Giants: Center fielder Heliot Ramos was out of the lineup because of a jammed right thumb that caused him to exit Friday night’s game early.Up Next
Giants: Right-hander Logan Webb (8–8, 3.49 earned-run average) is set to start Monday’s opener of a four-game series at Washington against Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin (2–8, 5.88).Reds: Right-hander Nick Martinez (5–5, 3.65) is scheduled to start Monday’s opener of a four-game set at Miami, with righty Roddery Munoz (2–5, 5.45) going for the Marlins.
