Matt Chapman hit a grand slam in the first inning, propelling the San Francisco Giants to a 5-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, evening their three-game series. The Giants filled the bases with one out, thanks to singles by LaMonte Wade Jr. and Patrick Bailey, followed by a walk by Heliot Ramos, against Reds starter Nick Lodolo (3-2). Chapman then smashed a 1-2 pitch 416 feet to center field for his fifth home run of the season and his second career grand slam. Despite being in his first season with San Francisco, Chapman has only managed 18 RBIs in the Giants’ initial 40 games. Elly De La Cruz homered in the fourth inning, his ninth of the season, reducing the Reds’ deficit to 4-1. Giants’ rookie pitcher Mason Black allowed one run on four hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out two batters in his second start in the major leagues before being substituted after walking two of the first three batters he faced in the fifth inning.
San Francisco’s left fielder, Michael Conforto, had to exit the game during the fourth inning due to an apparent injury to his right leg. Conforto, who leads the Giants in home runs with 7 and boasts a slugging percentage of .490, left the field after sharply turning at first base following a one-out single. He seemed to grab at the back of his right thigh before leaving the field. Taylor Rogers (1-1) then took over, striking out TJ Friedl but hitting De La Cruz with a pitch, loading the bases with two outs. Rogers managed to strike out pinch hitter Stuart Fairchild swinging, ending the threat. Ryan Walker, Erik Miller, Tyler Rogers, and Sean Hjelle each pitched a scoreless inning, allowing at least one baserunner each, to secure the victory.
In the seventh, Bailey added a sacrifice fly to extend the Giants’ advantage to 5-1. San Francisco, which has won three of its last five games, had Chapman go 2-for-4. For the Reds, Jake Fraley had three hits, but they left nine men on base. Six innings in, Lodolo gave up five hits and four runs before being lifted. He got one walk and six strikeouts.