Sal Stewart's Homer Lifts Reds to Thrilling 9-8 Victory Over Chicago White Sox
The Cincinnati Reds held off a late charge from the Chicago White Sox to secure a thrilling 9-8 victory in the rubber game of their three-game series.
The Reds' Sal Stewart was the star of the show, scoring four times and hitting his 26th homer of the season, a 419-foot solo shot in the first inning. Stewart was also hit by a pitch on consecutive pitches in the third inning, prompting the ejection of White Sox right-hander Davis Martin. Both benches and bullpens cleared, but order was quickly restored.
Eugenio Suárez and Tyler Stephenson also homered for the Reds, with Suárez driving in four runs and Stephenson connecting for a three-run shot in the fourth inning. Suárez made it 3-0 with a two-run drive to left for his 18th homer of the season.
The White Sox fought back, however, with Randal Grichuk hitting a two-run double in their three-run second inning. Chicago closed to 9-7 on Andrew Benintendi's two-run single in the eighth inning, but Miguel Vargas struck out swinging on a full-count curveball from Pierce Johnson to strand runners on the corners.
The Reds' bullpen was shaky, but Tejay Antone pitched a scoreless inning for the win, and Julian Garcia worked a shaky ninth for his second save. The win was a crucial one for the Reds, who took the rubber game in the series.
Up next, the Reds will face off against the Miami Marlins in the opener of an eight-game homestand. RHP Chase Burns (13-2, 2.61 ERA) will take the mound for the Reds, while RHP Sandy Alcantara (13-6, 3.52 ERA) will pitch for the Marlins. The Reds will look to build on their momentum from this thrilling win, but they will face a tough test in the Marlins.
Source: Yahoo Sports
