In a home run fest, sacrifice fly holds up to beat Reds

SAN FRANCISCO — Wilmer Flores’ tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the seventh held up in a strange, back-andforth game that featured four two-run homers in the first inning alone, and the Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 7-6 on Tuesday night.

Austin Slater put the Giants ahead on an RBI triple in the sixth following three home runs by San Francisco. But Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford and second baseman Tommy La Stella collided trying to chase down pinch-hitter Alex Blandino’s fly in shallow center in the seventh, and the ball fell for a single as the Reds scored the tying run to make it 6-6.

The teams were tied at 4 after the first on a pair of tworun homers by each club. The only other time since at least 1974 that teams hit four two-run homers in the same inning was Sept. 18, 2004, when the Tigers and White Sox did so in the 10th.

Joey Votto connected off former Reds right-hander Kevin Gausman for his second homer in two nights. Mike Moustakas then added his two-run homer. Mike Yastrzemski and Brandon Crawford each hit two-run shots in the bottom half against Luis Castillo.

Reds notes: Sonny Gray will start Friday or Saturday in his return from a mid-muscle strain in his back. “He’s healthy and ready to go,“manager David Bell said . ... Bell said Tejay Antone, who struck out five over 3 2/3 hitless innings Monday, is unlikely to pitch again until Friday . ... Eugenio Suarez, hit on the hand by Aaron Sanchez on Monday, didn’t need further tests and felt OK.