Reds 12, Giants 11
Joey Votto homered twice and drove in the decisive run with a single in the 12th inning to lift the Cincinnati Reds to a wild 12-11 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.
Votto had four hits and four RBIs and knocked in Miguel Cairo with his go-ahead hit to right field. Votto blasted a two-run homer in the first inning and added a solo shot in the fourth.
San Francisco rallied from a nine-run deficit and took an 11-10 lead with a six-run eighth inning. Juan Uribe hit a three-run homer, Andres Torres tied the score with a two-run double and Aubrey Huff’s sacrifice fly put the Giants ahead.
Cincinnati evened things in the top of the ninth on Paul Janish’s run-scoring single.
Cincinnati’s Francisco Cordero (4-4) pitched two shutout innings and retired Torres on a game-ending grounder with runners on first and third in the 12th. Barry Zito (8-9) lost in relief.
The Reds built their big lead behind four homers. Cincinnati hit three jacks in the first inning – Votto’s two-run shot and solo homers by Jonny Gomes and Ryan Hanigan.
Cincinnati tallied four times in the third with Drew Stubbs’ two-run triple being the big hit.
San Francisco trailed 10-1 in the fifth before Pat Burrell’s two-run single started the comeback.
Pablo Sandoval had four of San Francisco’s 18 hits. Cincinnati had 16 hits.