Flores, Doval push San Francisco Giants’ winning streak to seven

Jul 19, 2023, 8:57 AM

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 17: Wilmer Flores #41 of the San Francisco Giants celebrates with teammates...

(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Sacramento Kings Beat Writer

The San Francisco Giants keep winning games. Sometimes they even win two in one night.

After finishing the 10th inning of Monday’s suspended game, the Giants outlasted the Cincinnati Reds in an 11-10 offensive marathon to pick up its seventh-straight win on Tuesday night.

Following a stretch of play that saw San Francisco lose seven of nine games, the Giants (54-41) have completely crawled out of the hole they created and started a full sprint toward the top of the National League West standings.

Entering play on July 19th, the Giants sit just 1.5 games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers and one game ahead of the third-place Arizona Diamondbacks.

"You gotta think the Reds are gonna pitch him cautiously after what he's done these first two games" pic.twitter.com/4cED0AMQfN

— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 19, 2023

After waiting out an hour-long rain delay, San Francisco quickly fell behind 4-1 to the Reds by the bottom of the second inning. Thanks to Wilmer Flores’ second home run in three innings (and third over the past two games)–this one being a three-run blast to left-center–the Giants evened the score at 4-4.

If you thought eight runs through the top of the third inning would be a sign of what would come on Tuesday, you were right.

Cincinnati and San Francisco took turns running up the score, as the Giants ended up creating some separation in the top of the seventh by taking an 11-8 lead.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto immediately trimmed the deficit to 11-10 following a two-run blast–the veteran’s 350th of his MLB career–as play entered the game’s final innings.

Cincinnati threatened to tie or go ahead in the ninth by putting two runners on with one out, but All-Star closer Camilo Doval induced a game-ending double-play to give San Francisco its seventh-straight win.

The save–Doval’s second of the day–also gave the closer his league-leading 30th closeout of the season.

Not one, but TWO saves on the day for the Giants' All-Star closer 🔥 pic.twitter.com/V5KeoOpFGX

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 19, 2023

Following the win, Giants manager Gabe Kapler spoke about the selflessness of his group.

“This is something that we know about this team, it’s a pretty selfless group,” Kapler said postgame. “They’re going to do anything it takes to win a baseball game. There are a couple of ways we could have played that. But more than anything, our players were prepared for every big moment today.”

As we move closer to August 1st’s trade deadline, San Francisco is positioned to be a buyer as they go full steam ahead toward a postseason push.