CINCINNATI — The Giants had struggled to scrape together runs for two games against one of the worst teams in the majors and appeared to be headed down an even worse path in Sunday’s series finale.
They were held hitless into the seventh inning and scoreless until the eighth but were kept in the game by another strong pitching performance from starter Alex Cobb. And with a six-run rally off Reds relievers in the eighth inning — highlighted by Evan Longoria’s go-ahead three-run home run — they were able to stave off a sweep with a 6-4 win at Great American Ballpark.
Longoria’s three-run shot into the right-field seats came after the Reds pulled starter Tyler Mahle, who didn’t allow a hit until Thairo Estrada doubled with two outs in the seventh inning. Giants hitters made 20 outs before they could muster a hit off Mahle.
