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Reds beat Giants as Bailey bests Lincecum again

Jun 4, 2014 - 5:01 AM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Devin Mesoraco hit a two-run homer to help the Cincinnati Reds defeat the San Francisco Giants, 8-3, in the opener of a three-game set.

Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips also knocked in a pair of runs for Cincinnati, which has won four straight and five of its last six overall.

Homer Bailey (6-3) allowed three runs over six innings with seven strikeouts in his first game against the Giants since he no-hit them last season. Bailey walked one and struck out nine in his second career no-hitter, a 3-0 win over San Francisco last July 2.

"Homer was good," Mesoraco said. "(He) was able to make pitches when he needed to. He got better as the game went on as he usually does."

Tim Lincecum, who opposed Bailey on that historic night, was back on the bump against him and again lost the battle.

Lincecum (4-4) was charged with the loss after surrendering eight runs on six hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings on Tuesday.

He issued no hits through five innings against the Chicago Cubs last week before exiting with a no-decision after throwing 96 pitches and developing a blister on his throwing hand.

Hunter Pence went 3-for-4 with a homer, while Pablo Sandoval and Joaquin Arias also delivered an RBI apiece in the setback.

Pence made sure there wouldn't be a second occurrence to the memorable feat nearly a year ago, as he pounced on the fourth pitch of the game and lined it over the wall in left to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

Billy Hamilton led off the home half of the first with a opposite-field double. Lincecum tried picking Hamilton off at second and appeared to have the speedster hung up, but his throw skipped into center field, allowing Hamilton to race home.

Todd Frazier worked a walk and Bruce followed a Phillips groundout with a double to make it a 2-1 game.

The RBI by Bruce was the 500th of his career and his first since April 25th.

Mesoraco then cranked his ninth homer of the season that pushed the margin to 4-1 after an inning of play.

Arias got a run back for the visitors in the second courtesy of a sacrifice fly that scored Hector Sanchez.

Angel Pagan walked to begin the third before Pence slapped a double into the left-field corner to put a pair in scoring position with no outs.

Sandoval, who finished 0-for-4 and had his 12-game hitting streak snapped, knocked in Pagan with a sacrifice fly to help cut the deficit to 4-3.

"It was an off night all around," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "The thing you like is we came back and got within a run. Their pitching shut us down from that point."

Hamilton singled to lead off the fifth, stole second and advanced to third on Sanchez's throwing error. After a walk to Frazier put runners at the corners, Phillips pulled a double down into the left-field corner that plated a pair for a 6-3 Reds lead.

Phillips later scored on a single from Bruce, who then stole second and advanced to third on another throwing error by Sanchez.

Brayan Pena reached on a fielder's choice two batters later that plated Bruce to make it 8-3.

J.J. Hoover and Logan Ondrusek collectively pitched three hitless innings to close out the win.

Game Notes

The Reds have won 11-of-12 against San Fran at Great American Ball Park ... Bailey has won three straight starts and five of six decisions. He improved to 3-0 in seven starts against the Giants ... San Fran committed a season-high four errors ... Mesoraco has three homers in his last four games ... Hamilton swiped two bases and now has 22 on the season.