Tim Hudsonpitched three scoreless innings on Thursday—adding to an already brilliant beginning to Cactus League play for the projected members of the San Francisco Giants rotation—and the San Francisco Giants rode a three-run fifth inning to a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds at Scottsdale Stadium.
Hudson allowed two hits and walked two in three innings, striking out three. The projected starters for the Giants this year—Hudson,Madison Bumgarner,Matt Cain,Tim LincecumandRyan Vogelsong—have now allowed just one run in a combined 20 innings of work so far this spring.
Cincinnati starterTony Cingraniwas just as good, allowing no hits and three walks while striking out three in three innings. He also picked off two runners, gettingBrandon BeltandEhire Adrianza.
The Giants (5-3) broke through against relieverChien-Ming Wangin the fifth.
Pablo Sandovalled off the inning with his first home run of the spring andRoger Kieschnickfollowed by getting aboard on an error by Reds second basemanArgenis Diaz.
Juan Perezmade Cincinnati pay for the miscue, lining a double to left to plate Kieshnick to make it 2-0. After a strikeout, Adrianza singled to right, but hit the ball so sharply that Perez had to hold at third.Angel Paganfollowed with a flare into left field to drive in Perez for a 3-0 lead.
Cincinnati (3-6) got a run back in the sixth offSergio Romoand some defensive tomfoolery by the Giants.Chris Dominguez, who had just entered the game at third base, threw awayJuan Duran’s grounder to put a runner on second, and Romo walked pinch-hitterHenry Rodriguez. A force out at second left runners at the corners with one out and pinch-hitterTravis Mattairgrounded a single up the middle to score Duran.
It remained 3-1 until the ninth, when the Reds tried to mount a rally againstJean Machi.
Tucker Barnhartflared a one-out double over the head of center fielderGary Brownand came around to score whenYorman Rodriguezsmacked a double of his own. The tying run moved up 90 feet to third on a ground out, butNeftali Sotolined out to Adrianza at shortstop to end it.
Jeremy Affeldtworked a perfect fourth inning for the Giants.Santiago Casilla(1-0) was awarded the win after a perfect fifth that included a strikeout. Romo allowed an unearned run on a hit and a walk with a strikeout in the sixth.Adam Reiferpitched a perfect seventh and Juan Gutierrez did the same in the eighth, striking out one. Machi earned his second save of the spring despite giving up a run on two hits with a strikeout in the ninth.
San Francisco mustered six hits, three of them for extra bases, including Sandoval’s homer and doubles by Perez andBrandon Hicks.
The Giants go to Surprise Stadium on Friday to take on the Kansas City Royals at 12:05 p.m. Pacific.
Add us as a preferred source onGoogleLoading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations