Byrd hit a bases-loaded single and a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning Thursday night, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-3 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
The Reds have won 12 of their last 15 regular-season games against the Giants at Great American Ball Park. Byrd played the biggest role in this one.
"He got off to a slow start, but he worked diligently," manager Bryan Price said. "He labored to get his swing worked out and it's paying dividends now."
Byrd batted only .169 in April with two homers, eight RBIs and 25 strikeouts. He has emerged from his slump and leads the team with 14 RBIs in May while hitting homers in six of his last 11 games.
"I have to prove to the people who believe in me, for putting me out there after the April I had," Byrd said. "It's easy to try and go in another direction, which (Price) could have done. But he kept faith in me."
Byrd's two-run single off struggling Tim Lincecum put Reds starter Johnny Cueto in position for a win. He turned a 3-2 lead over to the NL's worst bullpen in the eighth, and it got away.
Joe Panik tripled with one out -- extending his hitting streak to a career-high 10 games -- and scored on Angel Pagan's single off Tony Cingrani to tie it at 3. Jumbo Diaz (2-0) retired the last two batters to end the inning.
Byrd connected off Sergio Romo (0-2) with one out in the eighth, his eighth homer of the season. Aroldis Chapman fanned two of the three batters in the ninth for his seventh save in as many chances.
Cueto gave up two runs and five hits in seven innings, fanning nine. He let in one run with a balk.
"I got (my) hands caught in my shirt and couldn't get them out without committing a balk," Cueto said.
Lincecum brought a streak of 15 scoreless innings into the game, but had trouble just keeping his footing on the mound. Lincecum walked five, hit a batter, threw a wild pitch and gave up three runs in only 4 2/3 innings.
Both starters had long first innings.
Cueto gave up a pair of hits, including Buster Posey's RBI single, while throwing 23 pitches. Lincecum walked three consecutive batters with two outs before Jay Bruce flied out to the warning track in center on his 32nd pitch.
Gregor Blanco doubled off Cueto in the third, advanced on a groundout and scored on Cueto's fourth balk, the most in the majors.
Lincecum gave up a double to Todd Frazier in the fourth, then slipped to his knee while throwing ball four to Byrd. Brayan Pena's RBI single ended Lincecum's scoreless inning streak at 18 and cut it to 2-1.
The Reds loaded the bases in the fifth, and Byrd hit an opposite-field single for a 3-2 lead on Lincecum's 99th and final pitch.
REMEMBERING DOC
The Reds remembered Darrell "Doc" Rodgers before the game. Rodgers died earlier in the week from cancer at age 52. Rodgers spent 14 years in the Reds organization, including six as an assistant general manager.
CUETO'S BALKS
Cueto had only one balk in the last two seasons combined and eight in 194 career games heading into 2015. He has four in eight starts this season.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: Posey's bat broke on a groundout in the sixth, with the barrel hitting plate umpire Alfonso Marquez on the left hand. The umpire was examined by trainers for several minutes and stayed in the game.
Reds: Second baseman Brandon Phillips was out of the lineup for the second day in a row with a sprained left big toe.
UP NEXT
Giants: Left-hander Madison Bumgarner is 2-4 career against the Reds with a 5.05 ERA in seven starts.
Reds: Jason Marquis is 7-5 with a 2.95 ERA in 17 career starts against the Giants.
7:10PM,EDT,May 14,2015
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| San Francisco - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Cincinnati | SF | CIN |
| Blanco reached on infield single to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Panik walked, Blanco to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Pagán grounded out to second, Blanco to third, Panik to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Posey singled to right center, Blanco scored, Panik to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Belt struck out swinging. Panik caught stealing home, catcher to shortstop to third to catcher. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Tim Lincecum pitching for San Francisco | SF | CIN |
| Hamilton grounded out to catcher. | 1 | 0 |
| Cozart lined out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Votto walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Votto stole second. | 1 | 0 |
| Votto to third on wild pitch by Lincecum. | 1 | 0 |
| Frazier walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Frazier stole second. | 1 | 0 |
| Byrd walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Bruce flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Cincinnati | SF | CIN |
| Maxwell grounded out to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Crawford grounded out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| McGehee struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Tim Lincecum pitching for San Francisco | SF | CIN |
| Peña grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Schumaker lined out to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Cueto struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Cincinnati | SF | CIN |
| Lincecum grounded out to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Blanco doubled to left. | 1 | 0 |
| Panik grounded out to first, Blanco to third. | 1 | 0 |
| Pagán walked. | 1 | 0 |
| Blanco scored, Pagán to second on balk by Cueto. | 2 | 0 |
| Posey grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Tim Lincecum pitching for San Francisco | SF | CIN |
| Hamilton lined out to center. | 2 | 0 |
| Cozart walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Votto struck out looking. Cozart caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Cincinnati | SF | CIN |
| Belt struck out looking. | 2 | 0 |
| Maxwell grounded out to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Crawford struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Tim Lincecum pitching for San Francisco | SF | CIN |
| Frazier doubled to deep left. | 2 | 0 |
| Byrd walked. | 2 | 0 |
| Bruce struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| Peña singled to center, Frazier scored, Byrd to second. | 2 | 1 |
| Schumaker lined into double play, center to first, Peña doubled off first. | 2 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Cincinnati | SF | CIN |
| McGehee struck out looking. | 2 | 1 |
| Lincecum struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| Blanco walked. | 2 | 1 |
| Panik struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Tim Lincecum pitching for San Francisco | SF | CIN |
| Cueto reached on infield single to catcher. | 2 | 1 |
| Hamilton lined out to left. | 2 | 1 |
| Cozart singled to left, Cueto to second. | 2 | 1 |
| Votto struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| Frazier hit by pitch, Cueto to third, Cozart to second. | 2 | 1 |
| Byrd singled to right, Cueto and Cozart scored, Frazier to third. | 2 | 3 |
| López relieved Lincecum. | 2 | 3 |
| Bruce struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Cincinnati | SF | CIN |
| Pagán struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Posey grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 3 |
| Belt struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Javier Lopez pitching for San Francisco | SF | CIN |
| Peña grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 3 |
| Schumaker struck out swinging. | 2 | 3 |
| Cueto grounded out to second. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Johnny Cueto pitching for Cincinnati | SF | CIN |
| Maxwell singled to left. | 2 | 3 |
| Crawford flied out to right. | 2 | 3 |
| McGehee singled to center, Maxwell to second. | 2 | 3 |
| Aoki hit for López. | 2 | 3 |
| Aoki grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, McGehee out at second. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Jean Machi pitching for San Francisco | SF | CIN |
| Machí relieved López. | 2 | 3 |
| Hamilton lined out to left. | 2 | 3 |
| Cozart struck out looking. | 2 | 3 |
| Votto grounded out to second. | 2 | 3 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Tony Cingrani pitching for Cincinnati | SF | CIN |
| Cingrani relieved Cueto. | 2 | 3 |
| Negron at second base. | 2 | 3 |
| Susac hit for Blanco. | 2 | 3 |
| Susac walked. | 2 | 3 |
| Susac picked off first. | 2 | 3 |
| Panik tripled to deep left. | 2 | 3 |
| Pagán singled to right, Panik scored. | 3 | 3 |
| Díaz relieved Cingrani. | 3 | 3 |
| Posey lined out to right. | 3 | 3 |
| Belt lined out to left. | 3 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Sergio Romo pitching for San Francisco | SF | CIN |
| Susac catching. | 3 | 3 |
| Posey at first base. | 3 | 3 |
| Belt in left field. | 3 | 3 |
| Romo relieved Machí. | 3 | 3 |
| Frazier lined out to third. | 3 | 3 |
| Byrd homered to left (390 feet). | 3 | 4 |
| Bruce walked. | 3 | 4 |
| Affeldt relieved Romo. | 3 | 4 |
| Peña singled to right, Bruce to second. | 3 | 4 |
| Mesoraco hit for Díaz. | 3 | 4 |
| Bruce stole third. | 3 | 4 |
| Mesoraco struck out looking. | 3 | 4 |
| Negron grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Peña out at second. | 3 | 4 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Aroldis Chapman pitching for Cincinnati | SF | CIN |
| Chapman relieved Díaz. | 3 | 4 |
| Maxwell struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| Crawford struck out swinging. | 3 | 4 |
| McGehee lined out to right. | 3 | 4 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| San Francisco Giants | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Blanco LF | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | .242 | .333 | .394 |
b-Susac PH-C
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | .219 | .306 | .344 |
| Panik 2B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | .284 | .351 | .422 |
| Pagán CF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .336 | .359 | .425 |
| Posey C-1B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .289 | .370 | .430 |
| Belt 1B-LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | .276 | .355 | .378 |
| Maxwell RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .250 | .305 | .396 |
| Crawford SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .255 | .359 | .464 |
| McGehee 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 14 | .187 | .237 | .286 |
| Lincecum P | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | .200 | .333 | .200 |
López P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
a-Aoki PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | .273 | .357 | .353 |
Machí P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Romo P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Affeldt P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 31 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 140 | |||
| a-grounded to shortstop for J Lopez in the 7th b-walked for G Blanco in the 8th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Blanco (6, Cueto) 3B: Panik (2, Cingrani) RBI: Posey (15), Pagán (9) GIDP: Aoki Giants RISP: 2-7 (Pagán 1-2, Posey 1-2, Panik 0-1, Belt 0-1, Aoki 0-1) Team LOB: 5 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING CS: Panik (1, Home by Cueto/Peña) Picked Off: Susac (1st base by Cingrani) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 2 (Posey-Crawford, Pagán-Belt). Outfield Assist: Pagán (Peña at 1st base). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH |
| Attendance | 21,792 (51.5% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:58 |
| Weather | 69 degrees, overcast |
| Wind | 7 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Alfonso Marquez, First Base - Dan Bellino, Second Base - Bruce Dreckman, Third Base - Tom Hallion |
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