San Francisco Giants struggle in loss to Cincinnati Reds

Rookie Sal Stewart hits two home runs as Reds rout Giants 8-3

Apr. 16, 2026 at 2:04am by

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes of color, representing the action of a baseball game between the San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds in an abstract, deconstructed manner.A cubist interpretation of the Giants' struggles against the Reds, with the game's action fragmented into a kaleidoscope of geometric shapes and colors.San Francisco Today

The San Francisco Giants continued their early-season struggles, losing 8-3 to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. Reds rookie first baseman Sal Stewart hit two home runs, driving in four runs, as the Giants' offense was held in check. Giants starter Tyler Mahle had a rough outing, surrendering all eight Reds runs in just four innings of work. The loss was the Giants' third straight, dropping them to 6-12 on the season as they search for answers under first-year manager Tony Vitello.

Why it matters

The Giants were hoping to challenge the Dodgers in the NL West this season, but their slow start has them looking more like a last-place team. Their struggles at the plate have been a major issue, as they rank near the bottom of the league in runs scored despite a lineup that features hitters like Willy Adames and Rafael Devers. The team's emphasis on contact hitting over power under Vitello has yet to pay dividends, raising questions about the direction of the franchise.

The details

The Reds jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the first inning against Giants starter Tyler Mahle, who was chased after just four innings in which he allowed all eight Reds runs. Reds rookie first baseman Sal Stewart was the offensive star, launching two home runs and driving in four runs. Giants catcher Daniel Susac drove in two of the team's three runs, but the rest of the lineup was held in check.

  • The Giants entered Wednesday's game having lost their last two contests.
  • The Reds jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning.

The players

Tyler Mahle

The 31-year-old Giants starting pitcher who had a rough outing, allowing all eight Reds runs in just four innings of work.

Sal Stewart

The Reds rookie first baseman who hit two home runs and drove in four runs in the victory.

Daniel Susac

The Giants catcher who drove in two of the team's three runs in the loss.

Tony Vitello

The first-year manager of the Giants who is trying to turn the team's fortunes around after their slow start to the season.

Willy Adames

One of the Giants' key hitters who has struggled along with the rest of the team's offense so far this season.

Rafael Devers

Another Giants hitter with a strong track record who has yet to find his groove in the early going.

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What they’re saying

“We must find a way to get our bats going. This is not the start we envisioned, but we have to keep grinding and find a way to turn things around.”

— Tony Vitello, Giants Manager

What’s next

The Giants will look to avoid a sweep when they face the Reds again on Thursday. They'll need to find a way to jumpstart their struggling offense if they hope to turn their season around.

The takeaway

The Giants' slow start has raised questions about the direction of the franchise, as their emphasis on contact hitting over power has yet to pay dividends. With a talented roster that includes hitters like Adames and Devers, the team's inability to score runs has been a major concern, and they'll need to find a way to get their bats going if they want to challenge the Dodgers in the NL West.