San Francisco, CA – Devin Mesoraco hit a three-run home run as the Cincinnati Reds took a 9-3 win over the San Francisco Giants to open a doubleheader.
Zack Cozart went 4-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and three runs scored while Todd Frazier added a pair of RBI for the Reds, who have won five of six.
Tony Cingrani (4-1) gave up just two runs on five hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings to pick up his first win since June 11.
Eric Surkamp's (0-1) first start in two years didn't last long as he was tagged for seven runs on nine hits in just 2 2/3 innings. He was making his first appearance in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery last July 24.
"I was really excited to be out here tonight," said Surkamp. "Unfortunately it didn't work out the way I wanted it to. I still have some things to work on, but I feel like I'm close."
Kensuke Tanaka, Pablo Sandoval and Guillermo Quiroz each drove in a run for the Giants, who have dropped three straight.
This doubleheader is scheduled as a classic doubleheader, but the Reds will be the home team in the second game as that contest is a rescheduled meeting from a rain-postponed July 4 encounter in Cincinnati.
The Giants worked a run across in the first as Andres Torres led off with a walk, moved to third on a Marco Scutaro single and later scored on a sac fly from Sandoval.
Cincinnati, though, went on top in the second inning. With one out, Jay Bruce hit a ground-rule double and Frazier followed with a bloop single to shallow right. After Cozart singled in a run, Mesoraco followed with a blast over the wall in left for a 4-1 lead.
The Reds added to their lead in the third inning as Joey Votto led off with his 16th home run of the season and RBI singles from Frazier and Cingrani made it a 7-1 game.
San Fran got a run back in the fourth courtesy of a sac fly from Quiroz, but Cozart answered in the fifth with his eighth homer of the season, a two-out solo shot to left.
Frazier's run-scoring groundout in the seventh made it a 9-2 contest.
Tanaka beat out a double play in the bottom of the ninth to plate another run and account for the final margin.
Game Notes
Cincinnati center fielder Shin-Soo Choo went 0-for-3 in the game and had a 16- game hitting streak snapped ... The Reds have won all five games against the Giants this season ... The Giants batted just 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left eight on base ... The Reds went 5-for-8 with RISP.
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