3 pitches, 3 HRs: Reds go back to back to back

CINCINNATI -- The Reds homered eight times in the first two games of the series against the Giants, including five on Saturday. In the first inning on Sunday, they increased that total with homers on three consecutive pitches.

However, Cincinnati's offense went cold after that, not collecting another hit until there were two outs in the ninth inning in a 6-5 loss to San Francisco at Great American Ball Park.

“We didn’t get much going after the first inning,” Reds manager David Bell said. “That was pretty much the story of the game.”

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Following Joey Votto’s single to begin the game, Eugenio Suárez hit an 0-1 pitch from Jeff Samardzija into the right-field stands to put the Reds ahead, 2-0.

Jesse Winker homered to center on Samardzija’s next pitch. And on his next pitch, Derek Dietrich went deep to right to quickly make it 4-0.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the last time a team homered on three consecutive pitches was the Dodgers on June 12, 2007, against the Mets. Wilson Betemit, Matt Kemp and Hong-Chih Kuo achieved the feat.

Dietrich's homer was the longest of the three as it traveled a Statcast-projected 421 feet. It also had an exit velocity of 110 mph, making it the hardest hit of the trio as well. Dietrich has four homers in the last three games, marking the first time he has homered in three straight games in his Major League career.

“Not trying to hit home runs, we’ll take them when they happen,” Bell said. “More than anything, our offense is getting going and we are scoring more runs. We’ve seen that over the past week to 10 days.”

It was the second set of back-to-back-to-back home runs this season for the Reds. Kemp, who was released Saturday, and Scott Schebler, who is now at Triple-A Louisville, accomplished the feat along with Suarez on April 9 against Marlins starter Wei-Yin Chen.

Suarez, Winker and Dietrich are tied for the team lead with nine home runs each.

“I feel like all year we’re having good at-bats,” Winker said. “We’re getting some results. Speaking for me, personally, just trying to hit the ball hard. It’s a long year. We’re just getting into May. Anything can still happen. We’ll get it going.”

The Reds managed only three walks after the first inning until Kyle Farmer’s first career pinch-hit home run with two outs in the ninth.

Reds starter Luis Castillo didn't allow a hit in the first five innings, before allowing four runs in the sixth, including a game-tying three-run homer to Buster Posey. With the no-decision, Castillo remained unbeaten against the Giants, one of five teams he has never lost to (min. two starts).

“I didn’t realize I was throwing a no-hitter, I was focused on the game,” Castillo said through an interpreter. “I don’t think I missed location [on the pitch to Posey]. It was two-seam down and in with action. He put a pretty good swing on the ball.”

With the game tied at 4 in the ninth, closer Raisel Iglesias gave up a go-ahead, pinch-hit, two-run homer to Brandon Crawford that decided it.

After Amir Garrett pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts, Bell went to Iglesias, who took his fifth loss of the season, matching his total from last season.

“I second-guess myself all the time, just to make sure I’m making the best decision all the time,” Bell said. “We want our best guy in that situation. Iggy’s been doing this for a long time. He pitches in these spots for a reason. We’ll continue to pitch him in those important spots.”