Giants Rally Past Reds 4-2 For Series Split
SAN FRANCISCO (CBS/AP) - Aubrey Huff had three hits and two RBIs, Jonathan Sanchez pitched six wildly effective innings and the San Francisco Giants rallied from two runs down for a 4-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday night.
Nate Schierholtz delivered the go-ahead sacrifice fly off reliever Jose Arredondo (0-2) during a two-run seventh inning that helped the Giants earn a four-game series split.
Sanchez walked five and struck out five in six innings. He constantly pitched out of jams and forced three inning-ending double plays, giving San Francisco a chance to come back after chasing Reds starter Edinson Volquez after six innings.
Ramon Ramirez (2-0) earned the win and Brian Wilson pitched a scoreless ninth for his 18th save in 20 opportunities.
Sanchez struggled with his control again but kept the game close. And the Giants, even banged up with injuries to sluggers Freddy Sanchez and Buster Posey among others, just don't lose many close games at home.
Chris Stewart started the seventh with a walk. Then Andres Torres hit a double off Arredondo (0-2), who intentionally walked Miguel Tejada to load the bases with one out.
Arredondo was lifted for left-hander Bill Bray, who didn't fare much better. Schierholtz hit the go-ahead sacrifice fly to center, and Huff followed with a run-scoring single to give the Giants a 4-2 lead.
That was more than enough to back the bullpen.
Ramirez, Javier Lopez and Sergio Romo held the Reds scoreless for two innings before Wilson entered in the ninth. That's the formula San Francisco used to win the World Series last season, even if it looked like Sanchez might throw the game away early.
Of course, that both starters struggled with their control was no surprise. Sanchez and Volquez entered the game as the top two in the National League in walks and the trend continued to hurt both.
Sanchez hit Joey Votto and walked Jay Bruce to lead off the fourth. Then Scott Rolen hit an RBI double before Edgar Renteria lofted a sacrifice fly to left field to give the Reds a 2-0 lead.
The Giants started their rally in the fourth when Huff doubled down the left-field line to score Schierholtz from first and trim Cincinnati's lead to 2-1. Volquez walked Cody Ross to put runners on first and second with one out, then struck out Brandon Crawford and got Manny Burriss to line out to third.
Schierholtz drew a walk off Volquez to open the sixth. He moved to third on a hit-and-run single by Huff, and scored on Ross' groundout to short to even the score.
Volquez departed with the game tied after six innings, striking out five but walking three. The Reds only other scoring chance came when Votto flied out to left and Ross threw to second to double off Volquez.
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