Reds Matt McLain wallops slam in the win over the D-back
Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer (7) hits a basic hit during the second inning of an MLB baseball game between the Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Image: Albert Cesare / The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
Matt McLain hit a two-shot fastball for his first career grand slam as the Cincinnati Reds beat the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 9-6 on Friday night in their three-game series opener
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The rookie shortstop star trailed behind big shot reliever Justin Martinez by two strokes before driving his third pitch – a 100 mph fastball – into the seat on right in the fifth inning for his ninth home run of the season.
Another rookie – Spencer Steer – cruised through three rounds as the Reds won their third straight win after six straight losses
Ketel Marte scored two goals, tripled home runs and finished with four RBIs for the Diamondbacks, who lost for the fifth time in seven games since the All-Star break.
Reliever Lucas Sims got two runs out in the eighth but nailed it as Dominic Canzone and Gabriel Moreno each flew into the deep middle. Cincinnati is closing in on Alexis Diaz hitting a perfect ninth for her 28th save in 29 chances.
After Marte’s solo homer from Cincinnati starter Ben Lively gave Arizona a 1-0 lead in the first set, the Reds responded with an RBI groundout from Steer in the bottom of the inning and an RBI fielder pick from Nick Senzel in the second to take a 2-1 lead.
Arizona rookie and loser Tommy Henry (5-3) struggled with his control, allowing four runs — three earned — on four hits, four walks, and two hitter hits. He strikes two.
In the fourth round, the Reds had Henry and the Diamondbacks paid off many talented runners through walks, batting streaks and fielding errors.
Without an RBI since July 4, Steer tapped Senzel and McLain with two doubles into the left corner to put the Reds up, 4-2. Both runners have walked with two outs to start the rally
Lively was one of stopping the team in fifth and qualifying for the win. But he walked with Geraldo Perdomo and right winger Will Benson misreading Marte’s line drive into right field. The ball hit Benson’s glove and went through it.
Marte was credited with triple RBI, cutting Cincinnati’s lead to 4-3 and forcing Lively out of the game after 4 2/3 innings. The left-hander struck out six batters, all in the first three innings. Alex Young (4-0) stopped the only batter he faced — Corbin Carroll — to claim the win.
–Field Level Media
