SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Pinch-hitter Stuart Fairchild had an inside-the-park homer that provided a key insurance run late to help left-hander Andrew Abbott win for the first time in almost a month, and the Cincinnati Reds snapped an eight-game losing streak by beating the San Francisco Giants 4-2 on Friday night.
Left fielder Michael Conforto and center fielder Tyler Fitzgerald each tried to run down Fairchild's flyball to left-center off Erik Miller in the eighth, but the ball caromed off the wall between them and kicked back before Fitzgerald retrieved it and hit shortstop Casey Schmitt. Diving headfirst, Fairchild just beat the relay throw after third base coach J.R. House sent him for home.
“I thought I got it off the bat to be honest with you and I was kind of half jogging and then when I saw it take that crazy hop I was full speed ahead and the only thing in my mind was, `Let's go all the way!'" Fairchild said. “Once I saw J.R. wheel me around third I was like, ‘OK, we’ve got to do this.'”
It was the first inside-the-park homer at Oracle Park since Tampa Bay's Luke Raley on Aug. 16 last year, sixth by an opponent and 13th overall.
The Reds hope that victory will provide some much-needed momentum.
“Of course, we knew it was going to happen but when it does happen you just miss the feeling of winning, you work so hard,” manager David Bell said. “They love being around each other and enjoying one another and there's nothing like the feeling of winning, so it's nice to get back in there and celebrate.”
TJ Friedl hit a go-ahead double in the fourth for Cincinnati, which had lost 11 of 13.
Elly De La Cruz stole two more bases to bring his majors-leading total to 25. He has six over the past three games.
De La Cruz singled with one out in the first and was called for a pickoff before the Reds challenged and the call was overturned. He immediately stole his 24th base and then scored on Spencer Steer’s double one out later, then singled in the third and advanced to second on an error before stealing third base. He scored on Steer’s RBI single. De La Cruz struck out swinging in a nine-pitch to end the fourth.
Only eight others since 1901 have had 25 or more stolen bases in the first 38 games — Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson doing it three times each, according to MLB.
Abbott (2-4), who had been 0-3 over four starts since a road win against the Chicago White Sox on April 12, allowed two runs on six hits over five innings with two strikeouts and a walk.
Thairo Estrada homered in the first for San Francisco, which couldn't provide enough support for Logan Webb (3-4). The right-hander lost at home for the first time in four starts after beginning 2-0.
The Giants were delayed three hours returning home to the Bay Area from Denver on Thursday and had several travel issues during their recent trip.
The Reds didn't score more than four runs in a game during their longest losing streak in two years, but four were enough this time. Alexis Diaz finished it for his second save with a runner at second and the tying run at the plate.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: LHP Brandon Williamson is scheduled to report to Triple-A Dayton in a few days and will begin a rehab assignment as he recovers from a strained pitching shoulder. Bell said Williamson remains on target to rejoin the Reds in late May. ... RHP Ian Gibaut had anterior interosseous nerve-release surgery on his right arm on Thursday and reported immediately feeling better. He was shut down in April with lingering forearm issues.
Giants: CF Austin Slater left in the bottom of the second with concussion-like symptoms after crashing into the wall trying to make a catch in the initial inning. ... OF Jung Hoo Lee was held out of the lineup for a second straight game after fouling a ball off of his foot Wednesday night. ... San Francisco placed INF Nick Ahmed on the 10-day injured list with a sprained left wrist and recalled Schmitt from Triple-A Sacramento. Ahmed had an MRI exam Friday morning and was scheduled to be examined by team orthopedist Dr. Ken Akizuki. ... C Patrick Bailey was set to be checked by concussion specialist Dr. Anthony Saglimbeni to determine if he can return from concussion protocols.
UP NEXT
LHP Nick Lodolo (3-1, 2.79 ERA) pitches for the Reds on Saturday facing San Francisco for the first time opposite Giants RHP Mason Black (0-1, 10.38).
