Peavy hits 1st HR in 9 years, pitches Giants past Reds 5-3
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sure, Jake Peavy can remember his last home run — and the pitcher who gave it up.
"It would be Brad Penny. They're not hard to count," Peavy quipped. "Three of them in 14 years, they stand out."
The Giants pitcher homered through the low-hovering mist for his first long ball in more than nine years, leading San Francisco past the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Wednesday night.
Peavy struck out eight in six-plus innings on the mound and connected for his third career home run in the fourth against reliever Collin Balester. It was Peavy's first since July 26, 2006, at Dodger Stadium with the Padres.
Not until he got past second base and saw an umpire signal did Peavy know he had cleared the fence. Peavy is legally blind and with contacts can only get to 20-40 vision.
"That's the first legally blind guy to ever hit a home run in the big leagues," pal and fellow pitcher Tim Hudson said.
It gave Giants pitchers nine home runs this season, most since hitting 10 in 1934. The 1924 staff also had nine.
Peavy (7-6) became the fifth San Francisco pitcher to go deep this year, matching a major league record. Everyone in the rotation with at least 16 starts aside from rookie Chris Heston has homered, and Madison Bumgarner has five.
"Chris Heston hated to see that homer more than anybody. Ya'll got to put the pressure on him now," Peavy said.
San Francisco remained 7 1/2 games behind NL West-leading Los Angeles and 7 1/2 back of the Cubs for the second wild card.
Marlon Byrd hit an RBI triple in the third after a double in the second, and Ehire Adrianza added an RBI double and a run-scoring triple as the Giants chased Cincinnati starter Michael Lorenzen (4-9) after three innings.
Brandon Phillips hit an RBI double in the sixth to put the Reds on the board a night after they rallied for a 9-8 win in 10 innings. Skip Schumaker doubled home a run in the seventh.
Cincinnati loaded the bases with nobody out in the eighth but managed only one run.
Santiago Casilla retired Phillips on a bases-loaded grounder for his 34th save after a replay review extended the ninth inning.
Peavy allowed seven hits and one walk to win his third straight start and fourth consecutive decision since a loss at Pittsburgh on Aug. 20.
"I've seen him for a long time," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "I know people have talked about his stuff diminishing ... his fastball was still 90-92 (mph) with real good command and a good cutter and that sweeping breaking ball that he's thrown for years."
The right-hander went 250 at-bats and 287 plate appearances between home runs. He walked off to a warm ovation from the sellout crowd of 41,383 and chants of "Peavy! Peavy!"
San Francisco became the 16th team since 1901 to have five pitchers homer in a season and first since the 2002 Dodgers. The New York Giants did so twice, in 1930 and '35.
REDS IN THE RAIN
Rain forced the Giants inside during pregame warmups in the drought-starved Bay Area. The Reds have regularly attracted rain whether at home or on the road this year, with 23 rain delays spanning more than 30 hours. It began pouring in the bottom of the eighth, sending fans scattering for cover while others cheered the precipitation.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: CF Billy Hamilton did not start for the second consecutive game after leaving Monday's series opener with a sore shoulder. He entered as a pinch runner in the ninth and was awarded a stolen base upon replay review after initially getting called out. ... Price altered his rookie rotation by removing Lorenzen, Raisel Iglesias and Keyvius Sampson going into a weekend series at Milwaukee beginning Friday. Iglesias has fatigue in his right shoulder and the club will evaluate how to monitor his workload the rest of the way. Sampson is leaving for a couple of days to deal with personal family business. ... C Brayan Pena (strained right hamstring) threw and worked out of his squat while catching a bullpen session.
Giants: Hudson will play catch and throw a light bullpen Friday and plans to pitch Sunday on turn despite a hip issue. "It's just an old, tricky hip," he said. ... 2B Joe Panik was transferred to the 60-day disabled list with lower back inflammation that has kept him out since Aug. 2. ... C Trevor Brown and OF Mac Williamson had their contracts purchased from Triple-A Sacramento.
UP NEXT
Reds: LHP Brandon Finnegan will make his first major league start Friday against Milwaukee. It will be his 24th career appearance and second against the Brewers.
Giants: Bumgarner (18-7) goes for a career high in wins as he looks to follow up a one-hitter his last time out in which he took a perfect game into the eighth inning against the Padres. The Giants have won his last seven starts at home and 10 of 12 overall.