By Miguel Mike Medina
Photo Credit: Red Reporter
The Cincinnati Reds earned their first win of the season by defeating the San Francisco Giants 3-2.
Second baseman Matt McLain is officially back. He finished the game going 2-for-4 with a home run.
McLain missed the entire 2024 season because of shoulder surgery. He hit the home run off Justin Verlander, who made his Giants debut, in the bottom of the third inning to put the Reds on top after trailing 2-0.
The Reds’ young core, McLain, Elly De La Cruz, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, stepped up for the Reds on Saturday. De La Cruz got an RBI single to right field to tie the game.
In the bottom of the 6th inning, Encarnancion-Strand gave the Reds the lead when he homered to deep right field.
Nick Lodolo got the start for the Reds. After a tough first inning, Lodolo settled down and pitched solid for the rest of the game. He gave up two earned runs through six innings. Although he had just one strikeout, he was able to rely on his defense.
The Reds’ defense was sensational, especially the duo of De La Cruz and McLain in the middle infield. At some point, this duo will need a nickname.
Reds will play on Sunday at 1:40 pm. Robbie Ray will take the mound for the Giants. Nick Martinez will take the mound and make his Reds debut.
Miguel Mike Medina is the publisher of The MMM Journal. He can be reached at medinamiguelmike@gmail.com and themmmjournal@gmail.com
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