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Ervin's leadoff home run in 11th lifts Reds over Giants 2-1

Ervin's leadoff home run in 11th lifts Reds over Giants 2-1
Posted at 11:19 PM, Aug 17, 2018
and last updated 2018-08-18 03:29:22-04

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Phillip Ervin led off the 11th inning with a home run over the center field fence, lifting the Cincinnati Reds over the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Friday night.

Ervin's third homer of the season and first career walkoff drive came on a 1-1 pitch from Ray Black (2-2). It was his first walkoff home run since his sophomore year at Samford against Auburn.

“It’s exciting. It’s a great feeling,” Ervin said. “I knew it had a chance.”

David Hernandez (5-0) struck out two in a perfect 11th inning as the Reds ended a four-game losing streak.

Scooter Gennett had three hits for the Reds. Andrew McCutchen had three of San Francisco's eight hits.

Cincinnati starter Anthony DeSclafani pitched a season-high 7 2/3 innings, giving up six hits and one run with one walk and five strikeouts. He retired 11 consecutive batters from the fifth into the eighth.

“I know I’m capable of pitching into the seventh or eighth inning,” the right-hander said. “It is good to string three or four good starts together. I’m feeling comfortable right now. I’m focused on locating pitches.”

Casey Kelly, making his 10th major league start and first since May 22, 2016, for Atlanta, pitched around giving up nine hits and a walk to allow just one run in 4 1/3 innings. He was pitching in the rotation slot that opened up when Dereck Rodriguez went on the disabled list Thursday.

Kelly, who has been injured, had a fan in the Reds dugout -- his dad, Pat, is Cincinnati's bench coach.

Kelly and his dad saluted each other before things got going.

“Once I threw that first pitch, it was me against the Reds,” he said.

The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the second when Tucker Barnhart doubled and Curt Casali singled. The Giants tied the game in the third on Steven Duggar's leadoff double, Kelly's sacrifice and McCutchen's single.

BACK ON TOP

Reds CF Billy Hamilton batted leadoff for the first time since April 26 against Atlanta. He had made 62 consecutive starts batting ninth.

WHO’S ON FIRST?

Barnhart, Cincinnati’s Gold Glover behind the plate, made the first start of his career at a position other than catcher, manning first base in place of the injured Joey Votto.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija threw 50 pitches to batters while getting up and down three times before the game. He'll be evaluated on Saturday and could go on a rehab assignment Wednesday, manager Bruce Bochy said. Samardzija has been on the disabled list since July 15 with right shoulder inflammation.

Reds: Votto went on the 10-day disabled list with a right lower leg contusion, the result of being hit by Ryan Madson's pitch in Washington on Aug. 4.

UP NEXT

Giants: LHP Madison Bumgarner (4-4) is 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA in six games at Great American Ball Park.

Reds: RHP Matt Harvey (5-7) went seven innings in his last start for the first time since April 21, 2017, for the Mets.