Sal Stewart might be a rookie, but he’s experienced enough to put the Cincinnati Reds on his back.
Stewart, the Reds’ 22-year-old first baseman, hit two three-run home runs − one each in the first and second innings − to power the Reds to an eventual 8-3 win against the San Francisco Giants on April 15 at Great American Ball Park. Stewart’s six RBI’s tied for second-most by a Reds rookie in a single game since rookie rules were established in 1958.
The Reds’ single-game rookie record for RBI’s is seven by Robin Jennings (2001).
In the first inning, Eugenio Suárez went back-to-back with Stewart with a solo home run. In the fourth inning, Elly De La Cruz hit his sixth home run of the year on a 442-foot solo shot to straightaway center field. That was plenty of offense, and represented the second game in a row the Reds scored exclusively via the homer.
The Reds won’t mind if a few wins come by scoring in any one, specific manner given their slumping offense to begin the year. Their 56 runs entering the play were the third-fewest runs scored in MLB, ahead of only the Kansas City Royals (55) and San Francisco (51).
The victory meant Cincinnati would at least take the three game series from the Giants after winning 2-1 on April 14. The Reds will go for the series sweep April 16 at Great American Ball Park (12:40 p.m.) with starting pitcher Chase Burns (1-1, 3.31 ERA) scheduled to face Landon Roupp (2-1, 3.24 ERA).
A night after scratching out their fourth one-run win of the season, the Reds’ eight runs and comfortable margin of victory represented their best offensive output of the season.
Stewart’s home runs brought him to seven for 2026, and three in two games against the Giants, who fell to 6-12.
The Reds (11-7) battered San Francisco starting pitcher Tyler Mahle, a former Reds Opening Day starter. Mahle went four innings even though he allowed seven runs by the end of the second inning. Mahle also threw multiple balls to the backstop and walked five.
Rhett Lowder (2-1) provided the Reds with 6 2/3 innings. He exited with two runs charged to him, and a third was scored when reliever Brock Burke took over. Lowder also conceded five hits and a walk against four strikeouts.
Burke, Graham Ashcraft and Pierce Johnson recorded the final seven outs to ensure Cincinnati’s home runs stood up.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati Reds defeat San Francisco Giants behind Sal Stewart
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