CINCINNATI -- Matt McLain came through in a big way on Sunday afternoon. But his manager, Terry Francona, believes a little thing could be a turning point for the Reds second baseman.
McLain’s go-ahead, two-run home run in the seventh inning helped the Reds complete a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks with a 4-2 victory at Great American Ball Park.
In the fourth inning of Saturday’s 13-1 win, McLain’s bunt single loaded the bases, setting up Gavin Lux’s grand slam two batters later.
“Things like that really help,” Francona said. “When you’ve got your teammates beating you on the back, telling you, ‘Way to go’, that goes a long way.”
Francona called McLain’s bunt on Saturday the “play of the game.” In the seventh inning on Sunday, McLain did him one better.
With the score tied 2-2 and Jake Fraley on first, McLain belted his first home run since May 15 off Arizona starter Zac Gallen (4-8).
McLain was batting .179 coming into Sunday before going 2-for-3. The homer came on a slider over the heart of the plate that McLain said he was trying to hit back up the middle. McLain got out in front and sent it over the left-field wall.
There was an extra-jubilant celebration in the Reds’ dugout for their teammate, who’s had a difficult time at the plate this season.
It was McLain’s first go-ahead homer in the seventh inning or later.
“I think through it all, just been trying to play the game the right way, go about it the right way, control what I can, knowing it’s going to show up,” McLain said. “Just trying to build momentum. Small wins each day.”
Sunday’s win wasn’t small.
It’s the Reds’ first sweep of the Diamondbacks since July 21-23, 2023, and their fourth series sweep of the season.
The win also came with the Reds’ bullpen a bit depleted.
“That’s a hard game to win,” Francona said. “Couple relievers that weren’t available. Trying to stay away from a couple other guys. We set out to win today, and we did.”
Once again, Christian Encarnacion-Strand provided power with his fifth homer of the season, his third since coming off the IL on Friday.
Encarnacion-Strand has homered in three straight games for the second time in his career.
“He’s given us a huge lift,” Francona said. “We’ve tested him a little bit. He’s played some third, some first. He’s holding his own just fine. He’s swinging at strikes and he’s so strong, he’s dangerous.”
Jose Trevino added a solo homer for Cincinnati as well.
Brady Singer started for the Reds, but his outing was cut short after he was struck on his throwing arm by a line drive off the bat of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the fourth inning. Singer remained in the game after being hit but exited after allowing two runs in five innings (77 pitches) following a 31-minute rain delay in the top of the sixth.
Francona said Singer pleaded his case to stay in the game. Overall, the right-hander felt good about his performance and the team’s.
“The arm feels fine, a little sore, but it feels fine,” Singer said. “Definitely wanted to stay in there, but we talked about it. Really, really good weekend. Awesome to get three wins. Like the direction we’re headed.”