Matt McLain drilled a two-strike fastball for his first career grand slam as the Cincinnati Reds beat the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 9-6 on Friday night in the opener of the three-game series.
The rookie star shortstop fell behind hard-throwing reliever Justin Martinez two strikes before driving the third pitch — a 100.9-mph fastball — to the seats in right in the fifth inning for his ninth home run of the season.
Another rookie — Spencer Steer — drove in three runs as the Reds won their third straight after a six-game losing streak.
Ketel Marte homered twice, tripled home another run and finished with four RBIs for the Diamondbacks, who lost for the fifth time in seven games since the All-Star break.
Reliever Lucas Sims issued two walks in the eighth but worked out of it when Dominic Canzone and Gabriel Moreno each flew out to deep center. Cincinnati closer Alexis Diaz pitched a perfect ninth for his 28th save in 29 chances.
After Marte’s solo homer off Cincinnati starter Ben Lively gave Arizona a 1-0 lead in the first, the Reds responded with an RBI groundout from Steer in the bottom of the inning and an RBI fielder’s choice from Nick Senzel in the second for a 2-1 lead.
Arizona starter and loser Tommy Henry (5-3) struggled with his control, allowing four runs — three earned — on four hits, four walks and two hit batters. He struck out two.
In the fourth, the Reds made Henry and the Diamondbacks pay for the numerous gifted runners through walks, hit batters and fielding miscues.
Without an RBI since July 4, Steer drove in Senzel and McLain with a two-out double into the left field corner to put the Reds ahead, 4-2. Both runners had walked with two outs to start the rally.
Lively was one out from retiring the side in order in the fifth and qualifying for the win. But he walked Geraldo Perdomo and right fielder Will Benson misread Marte’s line drive to right field. The ball hit off Benson’s glove and went past him.
Marte was credited with an RBI triple, cutting the Cincinnati lead to 4-3 and forcing Lively from the game after 4 2/3 innings. The right-hander struck out six batters, all in the first three innings. Alex Young (4-0) retired the only batter he faced — Corbin Carroll — to register the win.
–Field Level Media
