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SF Giants salvage Logan Webb's excellent outing in 4-2 win over Reds

It took two days, but the SF Giants won the first game of their series against the Cincinnati Reds in a dramatic extra-inning affair on Tuesday.

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SF Giants salvage Logan Webb's excellent outing in 4-2 win over Reds
SF Giants salvage Logan Webb's excellent outing in 4-2 win over Reds /
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Working through a rain delay that split 10 innings over two days, the SF Giants defeated the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 on Tuesday afternoon and took the first game in their four-game series. On Monday night, when the game began, Giants ace Logan Webb was fantastic and may have been able to record his second complete game of the season if not for a weather delay cutting his outing short. After a night's rest, both teams returned to the field, and the Giants bullpen picked up where Webb left off.

SF Giants catcher Patrick Bailey reacts after hitting a solo home run in the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds on July 17, 2023.
SF Giants OF Austin Slater celebrates a home run against the Reds on July 17, 2023 / Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

The Reds, despite being one of the hottest teams in MLB between May and June, had cooled off considerably going into the All-Star break in July. At 50-44 coming into today's game, having just been swept by the Brewers to start the second half of the season, they clearly wanted to prove something against the Giants. But they weren't able to get the job done.

The Reds did attack early. Rookie shortstop Matt McClain hit a solo home run 382 feet to right-center field, one of the shortest parts of Cincinnati's park, in the bottom of the first inning. But their 1-0 lead didn't last long. In the third inning, Austin Slater returned the favor against Reds southpaw Brandon Williamson, hitting a \solo home run 442 feet to center field to put the score at 1-1.

Williamson and Webb both got through several more innings without incident, thanks in large part to the defense behind them. The Giants' and Reds' infields are a brilliant matchup of elite defenses. Strong plays from J.D. Davis, Brett Wisely, and Elly De La Cruz highlighted the middle innings. But Williamson's control was tested again when Wilmer Flores hit a slider to left to bring the Giants' lead to 2-1.

The Reds simply couldn't let the Giants be the only team on the board with two home runs. In the bottom of the seventh, after two at-bats with some questionable baserunning, Jonathan India hit a sinker to right field 371 feet. Webb, who'd nearly gotten through seven innings with minimal damage, now had two tallied earned runs off two mistake pitches sent to the shortest part of the Reds' yard. The game was tied 2-2. He finished the outing with seven strikeouts across seven innings pitched, allowing two earned runs on four hits and zero walks.

In the top of the eighth, Giants' manager Gabe Kapler decided to pinch hit Joc Pederson for Slater, forcing the Reds and David Bell to counter with a pitching change to accommodate Pederson's left-handed batting. The new pitcher, former Giant Alex Young, allowed a walk and a double to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. He got Michael Conforto to ground out and was in the process of being taken out for a new pitcher when the grounds crew signaled that there was rain and lightning in the area and began to cover up the field. The game was eventually suspended overnight and rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon.

Lucas Sims took the mound on Tuesday and Davis was lifted for pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr, giving the Giants the platoon advantage with a pair of runners in scoring position. Wade was unable to capitalize on the opportunity, though, striking out on three pitches. Sims hit rookie catcher Patrick Bailey (Giants Top 2 Prospect) to load the bases for Mike Yastrzemski, but Yaz struck out to end the inning.

With the game tied at two, rookie reliever Ryan Walker (Giants Top 19 Prospect) replaced Webb in the bottom of the eighth and breezed through a shutout inning of work. Reds closer Alexis Díaz responded with a 1-2-3 top of the ninth.

Kapler turned to Tyler Rogers in the bottom of the ninth and quickly found himself in trouble. Rogers walked Elly De La Cruz to lead off the inning after an impressive eight-pitch at bat. The rookie quickly stole second base, narrowly beating an excellent throw from Bailey. However, Rogers' erased the stolen base by picking off De La Cruz and killing the Reds' rally.

Reds righty Ian Gibaut took the hill in the top of the 10th inning and immediately allowed an RBI double to Pederson. Pederson extended the Giants' lead to 4-2 after advancing 90 feet on a pair of ground balls.

Armed with a two-run lead, Giants All-Star closer Camilo Doval took the mound in the bottom of the 10th. While the Reds started the inning with a runner on second base, Doval did not allow a run to score and retired Cincinnati in order to record his MLB-leading 29th save of the season.

Neither team will have much time to relax before returning to the field. The next game in the series will begin later this evening. The starting pitcher for the SF Giants is expected to be Anthony DeSclafani, fresh off the 15-day injured list. First pitch will be at 4:10 pm Pacific.

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