The Reds needed more than a thunderstorm to stop the lightning-hot Giants.
To win their sixth straight game, San Francisco hit play on the paused game in the eighth inning, and provided a dramatic final act.
Even Giants manager Gabe Kapler admitted that Tuesday night’s interruption stunted San Francisco’s momentum, but his club rallied to take the series opener in extra innings.
The Giants failed to capitalize in the eighth inning that they set themselves up in, but Joc Pederson’s RBI double and run in the 10th, coupled with Camilo Doval’s 1-2-3 save, gave the Giants (53-41) a 4-2 victory after 56 minutes of baseball.
San Francisco is now a season-high 12 games over .500 and working on a six-game win streak. Their 17-7 record against the National League Central — a surprisingly tough division — is the best in baseball.
Inclement weather in Cincinnati suspended play on Monday night in the eighth inning. When the teams picked up Tuesday, the Giants had Joc Pederson at third, Wilmer Flores at second and J.D. Davis warming up in the on-deck circle with one out.
The score was tied 2-2 thanks to a pair of solo home runs from Austin Slater and Flores, plus two solo shots from Cincinnati against Logan Webb. The Giants ace would have continued if the storm held off since he was only at 86 pitches, but settled for a two-run, seven-inning, seven-strikeout performance. Only two other Reds base runners reached against the MLB leader in innings pitched.
Davis got the first set of high-fives when play resumed, as Kapler subbed him out for pinch-hitter LaMonte Wade Jr.. San Francisco’s typical leadoff man dug in against right-handed strikeout specialist Lucas Sims.
Teams in the Giants’ situation — on the road with two men in scoring position in a tied eighth inning — have a 67% win probability. That number sharply declined when Wade struck out on three pitches. Then again when Sims fanned Mike Yastrzemski on a back-foot slider to strand the bases loaded.
After blowing their previously earned prime scoring chance, Giants rookie Ryan Walker, instead of Webb, worked a perfect bottom of the eighth inning.
Two deep fly outs to right field, an area of Great American Ball Park that was much friendlier on Tuesday, highlighted a 1-2-3 top of the ninth for Cincinnati’s All-Star closer Alexis Diaz.
In the bottom of the ninth, phenom Elly De La Cruz swiped second just a hair ahead of Patrick Bailey’s perfect throw, but then Tyler Rogers erased the overeager rookie by picking him off second. Rogers, despite some command issues, sent the game into extras.
Then in the top of the ninth, Pederson delivered. The designated hitter went with a full-count, 96-mph fastball up and away, driving it to the opposite field for a double. He then scored on a sharp grounder to the right side from Michael Conforto to put the Giants up 4-2.
Two runs was plenty for Doval, the All-Star closer who recorded his 29th save in 31 chances. He struck out Jonathan India and Joey Votto for the final two outs, hopping off the mound in celebration.
Next for the Giants: a chance for seven straight in less than an hour. Maybe a two-night save for Doval, too.