Giants beat Reds behind Kyle Harrison’ home debut
Giants starting pitcher Kyle Harrison pitches in the first inning for his home debut as the San Francisco Giants played the Cincinnati Reds at Oracle Park in San Francisco, on Monday, August 28, 2023.Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle
2023.08.28 – Rookie pitcher Kyle Harrison, who went to high school about 30 minutes east of San Francisco, struck out 11 in his first career victory as the San Francisco Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Monday night.
Harrison’s home debut at Oracle Park was as electrifying as the pitches he was throwing.
Harrison, who is from Danville and played at De La Salle-Concord, struck out hitter after hitter, five in a row to start the game and 11 in all.
Just as rewarding, too, because it came in front of a crowd of 24,581 that included a throng of family and friends.
“Momentum’s a big thing in this game,” Harrison said. “I had a lot of support behind me and it was an awesome day.”
The Giants win over the Reds had playoff implications for both teams. The Giants are alone in fourth in the wild-card standings, half a game behind Arizona for the third and final playoff spot.
Wilmer Flores, Patrick Bailey and Wade Meckler each had an RBI double for the Giants, who moved within a half-game of Arizona for the final NL wild card.
Elly De La Cruz had an RBI double for the Reds, who remained 1 1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks for the last National League playoff berth.
Six days after making his long-awaited major league debut in Philadelphia, the 22-year-old Harrison was welcomed with multiple standing ovations at Oracle Park, where every strikeout was cheered loudly.
Harrison, a third-round draft pick in 2020, allowed three hits and walked two in 6 1/3 shutout innings. The team’s top pitching prospect was pulled after Christian Encarnacion-Strand doubled and TJ Friedl walked.
2023.08.28 (SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds) See Full Highlights
San Francisco Giants pitcher Kyle Harrison, center, walks to the dugout after being pulled during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)Godofredo A. Vásquez/Associated Press
2023.08.28 (SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds) See Full Highlights
2023.08.28 (SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds) See Full Highlights
Before exiting, Harrison (1-0) was as dominant as billed following an uneven debut against the Phillies that lasted only 3 1/3 innings. The left-hander became the first Giants pitcher to retire the first five batters of a game by strikeout since Hall of Famer Randy Johnson did it against Colorado on May 1, 2009. Harrison also worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the fifth by getting Luke Maile to fly out before whiffing TJ Hopkins.
According to the Giants, Harrison is the second starting pitcher since 2000 to have double-digit strikeouts in his second career start. Shohei Ohtani did it for the Angels against the Athletics on April 8, 2018.
The only other Giants pitcher to do it was Jeff Tesreau in 1912.
“It was about as electric a performance as we’ve seen since I’ve been here in San Francisco,” manager Gabe Kapler said. “To do it in front of his family and see the tears up on the big screen was pretty rewarding for all of us. It’s a pretty big moment for everyone involved.”
2023.08.28 – SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds (95.7fm – pre-game)
San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey hits his 2-run double in the 3rd inning against Cincinnati Reds during MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, August 28, 2023.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2023.08.28 – SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds (NBC Sports – Post Recap)
2023.08.28 – SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds (NBC Sports – Post Recap)
San Francisco, which had lost 14 of 20, backed the young starter with enough offense and a defensive gem from right fielder Luis Matos, who made a one-hop throw home to nail a runner at the plate in the seventh.
Ryan Walker retired two batters, Tyler Rogers allowed one run in the eighth and Camilo Doval worked the ninth for his 35th save.
The night, however, belonged to Harrison, whose arrival in San Francisco had been talked about all season before the Giants finally called him up. At Oracle Park, fans finally got a chance to see what all the hype was about.
“The funny part is I think everybody’s shocked. Like, ‘Oh man, wow, this is incredible,’” said Bailey, the Giants catcher who played with Harrison in the minors. “I’ve been seeing it for three years. It’s been really cool just to see him do it on the biggest stage.”
It was a rough day all around for Cincinnati.
Before the game, the Reds placed standout infielder Matt McClain on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique. A contender for NL Rookie of the Year, McClain is batting .290 with 16 home runs, 50 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 89 games.
“We’re really hoping it’s on the mild side and he can return quickly,” manager David Bell said. “I think he’ll have a chance to get it better quick now, because he was playing with it and he can really get on top of the treatment.”
Harrison struck out the side on 15 pitches during an impressive first inning. He got Noelvi Marte and De La Cruz on swinging strikeouts sandwiched around Nick Senzel, who went down looking.
Flores’ RBI double off starter Andrew Abbott (8-4) in the bottom half put the Giants ahead 1-0. San Francisco loaded the bases later in the inning before Abbott retired Paul DeJong and Heliot Ramos on back-to-back swinging strikeouts.
Thairo Estrada singled against Abbott in the third and scored on Bailey’s double. DeJong’s sacrifice fly made it 3-0.
2023.08.28 – SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds (Locked On post game)
San Francisco Giants’ Patrick Bailey #14 tags out Cincinnati Reds Christian Encarnacion-Strand #33 in the 7th inning against Cincinnati Reds during MLB game at Oracle Park in San Francisco, Calif., on Tuesday, August 28, 2023.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2023.08.28 – SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds (Locked On post game)
2023.08.28 – SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds (Locked On post game)
Abbott, who only had one-hit over eight innings on July 20, allowed five hits and three runs in 3 1/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: RF Stuart Fairchild went 0 for 1 with a walk after being activated from the seven-day concussion list.
UP NEXT
Giants RHP Alex Cobb (6-5, 3.74 ERA) faces Reds LHP Brandon Williamson (4-3, 4.18) at Oracle Park on Tuesday night. Cobb hasn’t won since July and has allowed 10 runs in eight starts since then. Williamson has also hit a slump, winning one of his last five starts.
RELATED: 2023.08.29 (SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds) Full Highlights
RELATED: 2023.08.29 (SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds) Full Highlights
RELATED: 2023.08.30 (SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds) Full Highlights
RELATED: 2023.08.30 (SF Giants vs. Cincinnati Reds) Full Highlights
RELATED: Giants edge the Boston Red Sox in 11 innings
RELATED: See below – SF Giants 2014 World Series Champions
Read more at: San Francisco Giants Media Services / More AP MLB
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
For more on the San Francisco Giants, see the blog at www.EMIsportsCentral.com
EMI Sports Central – EMI Sports Bay Area: Join the conversation on sports news for SF Bay Area teams: Follow @EMIsports on Twitter, “Like” us on Facebook and sign up for our FREE email newsletters.
SF Giants 2014 World Series Champions