Reds’ Matt McLain wallops slam in win over D-backs
Matt McClain drills two-strike fastball for first career grand slam Cincinnati Reds hit the attack Arizona Diamondbacks 9-6 on Friday night in the first game of the three-game series
The star rookie shortstop fell behind hard-throwing reliever Justin Martinez for two strikes before lofting the third pitch — a 100-mph fastball — in the fifth inning for his ninth home run of the season.
Another rookie – Spencer Steuer – also scored three runs. reds Won third consecutive win after losing six consecutive matches
Ketel Marte homered twice, tripled another run and finished with four RBI. diamondbacksJoe lost for the fifth time in seven games since the All-Star break.
Reliever Lucas Sims issued two walks in the eighth, but gained the advantage when Dominic Canzon and Gabriel Moreno singled to deep center. Cincinnati closer Alexis Diaz pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save in 29 chances.
Arizona got a 1–0 lead in the first after Marte’s solo homer by Cincinnati starter Ben Lively. reds responded with a 2–1 lead on Steuer’s RBI groundout in the bottom of the inning and Nick Senzel’s RBI fielder’s choice in the second.
Arizona starter and loser Tommy Henry (5-3) struggled with his control, allowing four hits, four walks and four runs — three earned — on two hit batters. He dismissed two.
in the fourth, reds henry and made diamondbacks Pay for many talented runners through walks, hit batters and fielding miscues
Without an RBI since July 4, Steere put in Senzel and McLain with a two-out double into the left field corner. reds Forward, 4–2. Both runners walked with two outs to start the rally
Lively was one of the team to retire in fifth and qualify for the win. But he walked Geraldo Perdomo and right fielder Will Benson misread Marte’s line drive to right field. The ball clipped Benson’s gloves and went past them.
Marte was credited with an RBI triple that cut Cincinnati’s lead to 4–3 and knocked Lively out of the game after 4 2/3 innings. The right-handed batsman dismissed six batsmen in the first three innings. Alex Young (4-0) retired the only batter – Corbin Carroll – to record the win.
–Field Level Media
