The game was decided in the first inning. Cincinnati erupted for four runs on back-to-back home runs, setting the tone for an 8-3 victory over San Francisco at Great American Ball Park.
Sal Stewart carried the offense with two home runs and six RBIs. He went 2-for-4, launching a three-run homer to right center in the first inning that scored Friedl and McLain, then adding a three-run shot in the second that brought home McLain and De La Cruz. Stewart is hitting .339 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs this season.
The Reds struck immediately in the first when Stewart homered to right center, giving Cincinnati a 3-0 lead. Eugenio Suarez followed with a solo shot to right, extending the advantage to 4-0. After San Francisco cut the deficit to 4-2 in the second on Susac's two-run double, Stewart answered with his second homer of the night, pushing the lead to 7-2. De La Cruz added a solo shot to center in the fourth to complete the scoring surge.
Tyler Mahle struggled for the Giants, allowing eight runs on eight hits over four innings. He walked five and struck out six, falling to 0-3 with a 7.23 ERA. Rhett Lowder earned the win for Cincinnati, pitching 6.2 innings and allowing three runs on five hits with four strikeouts. His ERA sits at 3.52.
Cincinnati improved to 10-7 and snapped a losing streak. San Francisco fell to 6-11, extending their losing streak to three games.