Phenom dazzles in home debut

SF 4  CIN 1

22-year old southpaw Kyle Harrison put up six scoreless frames with eleven strikeouts and even came out for the 7th inning. He got the first out but after a double and a walk rookie Ryan Walker was summoned. He gave up a ground ball single but rookie right fielder Luis Matos fired a one-hopper home to get the runner for the second out. It was a pretty play. Walker whiffed the next guy. Tyler Rogers gave up a run with two outs in the 8th (on an error) but that was all for the Reds. Camilo Doval worked a 1-2-3 9th for the save.

The night belonged to the young lefty. He went 3-and-2 on the first two batters before whiffing them both, then overpowered Reds rookie sensation Elly De La Cruz on three strikes. Harrison struck out the first two batters in the 2nd before yielding a pop up. He struck out two more in the 3rd and gave up a hit. Two more strikeouts followed in the 4th. In the 5th he allowed a walk and a hit but got a strikeout to end the threat. I wasn’t expecting him to continue but he was efficient in the 6th, whiffing the first guy and getting the next two outs on three pitches. With the Giants up 4-0 at that point Kyle went back on the mound but his night ended after 91 pitches. It was a sensational showing especially for a struggling club deep into a grueling season.

Wilmer Flores got the scoring going in the 1st but they squandered the chance for more. They got two more in the 3rd with an RBI hit from rookie Patrick Bailey and a sac fly from Paul DeJong. Rookie Wade Meckler got a clutch RBI double in the 6th to pad the lead. The Giants were 3-for-11 with RISP and stranded eight. I’m quibbling, I know. It was a big win against a tough foe. And Kyle Harrison was terrific in front of his first home crowd.

Alex Cobb goes tomorrow night, 6:45 PT.

Go Giants!

–M.C.