Matt Chapman hit his 17th homer and saved a run by barehanding a slow roller to third base, lifting the San Francisco Giants to an 8-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. LaMonte Wade Jr. and Tyler Fitzgerald also homered for the Giants, who took two of three from the Reds in a series between teams on the fringes of contention in the NL wild card race. “We're off to a good start in the second half,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said.

Matt Chapman hit a game-tying home run in the fourth inning and made a key defensive play in the sixth to help lead the visiting San Francisco Giants past the Cincinnati Reds 8-2 on Sunday afternoon. Left-hander Robbie Ray (2-1) won in his third start back from Tommy John surgery in May 2023, allowing two runs on three hits -- including two solo homers -- while striking out nine and walking one over five innings. Four relievers combined for four scoreless innings to finish San Francisco's eighth win in 11 games. The Giants' LaMonte Wade Jr. broke a 2-2 tie with a solo homer in the sixth, and Tyler Fitzgerald added a two-run homer in the eighth.

Former Clemson standout Carson Spiers isn't likely in danger of losing his spot in the Cincinnati Reds' starting rotation any time soon. After holding the Chicago Cubs to five scoreless innings of one-hit ball in a start earlier in the week, Spiers faced the San Fr

The Cincinnati Reds flirted with a 21st one-run loss Sunday until a bullpen meltdown ignited an 8-2 rout by the San Francisco Giants.

All Times EDT East Division W L Pct GB Philadelphia 65 45 .591 — Atlanta 60 51 .541 5½ New York 58 52 .527 7 Washington 51 61 .455 15 Miami 42 70 .375 24 Central Division W L Pct GB Milwaukee 62 49 .559 — St. Louis 57 54 .514 5 Pittsburgh 56 55 .505 6 Chicago 54 59 .478 9 Cincinnati 53 58 .477 9 West Division W L Pct GB Los Angeles 64 47 .577 — Arizona 60 52 .536 4½ San Diego 60 52 .536 4½ San Francisco 56 57 .496 9 Colorado 41 71 .366 23½ Saturday's Games St. Louis 5, Chicago Cubs 4 Washington 6, Milwaukee 4 Pittsburgh 4, Arizona 2 Cincinnati 6, San Francisco 4 Miami 4, Atlanta 3 San Diego 3, Colorado 2 L.A. Dodgers 10, Oakland 0 L.A. Angels 5, N.Y. Mets 4 Seattle 6, Philadelphia 5, 10 innings

Pretty cool first couple days back in the big leagues for Jerar Encarnacion, who started the year in the Mexican League. Took part in a no-hitter one night. After he went unsigned this past winter, Encarnacion caught on with Oaxaca and homered 19 times in 26 games, then slugged 10 more after joining Triple-A Sacramento in June. Arriving at Great American Ballpark on Friday, Encarnacion stepped out of the dugout and looked around, taking in the big-league setting, and so happened cross paths with rookie reliever Spencer Bivens, who took an even more winding path to the Giants' bullpen.

Pretty cool first couple days back in the big leagues for Jerar Encarnacion, who started the year in the Mexican League. Took part in a no-hitter one night. After he went unsigned this past winter, Encarnacion caught on with Oaxaca and homered 19 times in 26 games, then slugged 10 more after joining Triple-A Sacramento in June. Arriving at Great American Ballpark on Friday, Encarnacion stepped out of the dugout and looked around, taking in the big-league setting, and so happened cross paths with rookie reliever Spencer Bivens, who took an even more winding path to the Giants' bullpen.

Pretty cool first couple days back in the big leagues for Jerar Encarnacion, who started the year in the Mexican League. Took part in a no-hitter one night. After he went unsigned this past winter, Encarnacion caught on with Oaxaca and homered 19 times in 26 games, then slugged 10 more after joining Triple-A Sacramento in June. Arriving at Great American Ballpark on Friday, Encarnacion stepped out of the dugout and looked around, taking in the big-league setting, and so happened cross paths with rookie reliever Spencer Bivens, who took an even more winding path to the Giants' bullpen.

Pretty cool first couple days back in the big leagues for Jerar Encarnacion, who started the year in the Mexican League. Took part in a no-hitter one night. After he went unsigned this past winter, Encarnacion caught on with Oaxaca and homered 19 times in 26 games, then slugged 10 more after joining Triple-A Sacramento in June. Arriving at Great American Ballpark on Friday, Encarnacion stepped out of the dugout and looked around, taking in the big-league setting, and so happened cross paths with rookie reliever Spencer Bivens, who took an even more winding path to the Giants' bullpen.

San Francisco Giants (55-57, fourth in the NL West) vs. Cincinnati Reds (53-57, fourth in the NL Central) Cincinnati; Sunday, 12:05 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Giants: Robbie Ray (1-1, 4.82 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, 12 strikeouts); Reds: Carson Spiers (4-2, 3.46 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, 45 strikeouts) : LINE Giants -128, Reds +109; over/under is 9 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: Both the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants are looking for a series win with a victory on Sunday. Cincinnati has a 53-57 record overall and a 28-30 record in home games. The Reds have gone 9-20 in games decided by one run. San Francisco has a 22-34 record in road games and a 55-57 record overall. Giants hitters are batting a collective

The 2024 Giants have little room for error when their strong starting rotation hits a speed bump.

All Times EDT Sunday, Aug. 4 MLB San Francisco at Cincinnati, 12:05 p.m. Arizona at Pittsburgh, 1:35 p.m. Miami at Atlanta, 1:35 p.m. Milwaukee at Washington, 1:35 p.m. Toronto at N.Y. Yankees, 1:35 p.m. Baltimore at Cleveland, 1:40 p.m. Kansas City at Detroit, 1:40 p.m. Chicago White Sox at Minnesota, 2:10 p.m. Tampa Bay at Houston, 2:10 p.m. Boston at Texas, 2:35 p.m. L.A. Dodgers at Oakland, 4:07 p.m. N.Y. Mets at L.A. Angels, 4:07 p.m. Colorado at San Diego, 4:10 p.m. Philadelphia at Seattle, 4:10 p.m. St. Louis at Chicago Cubs, 7 p.m. OTHER EVENTS GOLF LPGA Tour - The Portland Classic, Portland, Ore. TENNIS ATP/WTA - The Mubadala Citi DC Open, Washington

The Giants quickly were brought back to reality during a 6-4 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday at Great American Ball Park.

The Miami Marlins added a piece for their outfield Saturday, claiming speedy center fielder Derek Hill from the San Francisco Giants. Hill, 28, was placed on waivers Friday after he went 3-for-12 during a brief stint in San Francisco, who claimed him July 23. In 21 games with the Texas Rangers and Giants this season, Hill is batting .255 with three home runs and seven RBIs.

SAN FRANCISCO — After his scorching-hot July, Tyler Fitzgerald was rewarded Saturday with National League Rookie of the Month honors. The 26-year-old shortstop hit .321 (17-for-53) with eight home runs, two doubles, one triple, 15 RBI and 13 runs scored, leading NL rookies in batting average, home runs and on-base percentage while ranking among the top five in RBIs, slugging percentage, triples, runs scored and walks. Fitzgerald, a fourth-round draft pick out of Louisville in 2020, became the first Giants rookie to earn the honor since Luis Gonzalez in May 2022. He has only continued his hot hitting since the calendar turned to August, contributing three hits and his 10th home run of the season

SAN FRANCISCO — After his scorching-hot July, Tyler Fitzgerald was rewarded Saturday with National League Rookie of the Month honors. The 26-year-old shortstop hit .321 (17-for-53) with eight home runs, two doubles, one triple, 15 RBI and 13 runs scored, leading NL rookies in batting average, home runs and on-base percentage while ranking among the top five in RBIs, slugging percentage, triples, runs scored and walks. Fitzgerald, a fourth-round draft pick out of Louisville in 2020, became the first Giants rookie to earn the honor since Luis Gonzalez in May 2022. He has only continued his hot hitting since the calendar turned to August, contributing three hits and his 10th home run of the season

Readers of the Los Angeles Times Sports section weigh in on the Dodgers' moves at the trade deadline, Anthony Rendon and the Paris Olympic Games.

The San Francisco Giants are attempting to make a late push in the final two months of the year so they can be playing postseason baseball for the first time since 2021. For long stretches of the year that had not happened, prompting them to be viewed as a selling team ahead of the now passed trade deadline where they could have attempted to recuperate some assets while waiving the white flag on their season. The Giants sold off some parts, but not in the fashion that many expected. Jorge Soler and Alex Cobb were two names shipped out of town, largely to get their salaries off the books and to give some of their younger players a better opportunity to get regular action.

All Times EDT East Division W L Pct GB Philadelphia 65 44 .596 — Atlanta 60 49 .550 5 New York 58 51 .532 7 Washington 49 61 .445 16½ Miami 40 70 .364 25½ Central Division W L Pct GB Milwaukee 62 47 .569 — St. Louis 56 54 .509 6½ Pittsburgh 55 54 .505 7 Chicago 54 58 .482 9½ Cincinnati 52 57 .477 10 West Division W L Pct GB Los Angeles 63 47 .573 — Arizona 59 51 .536 4 San Diego 59 52 .532 4½ San Francisco 55 56 .495 8½ Colorado 41 70 .369 22½ Friday's Games Chicago Cubs 6, St. Louis 3 San Francisco 3, Cincinnati 0 Atlanta 5, Miami 3 Milwaukee 8, Washington 3 Arizona 9, Pittsburgh 8 Oakland 6, L.A. Dodgers 5 Seattle 10, Philadelphia 2 Colorado 5, San Diego 2 N.Y. Mets 5, L.A. Angels 1 Saturday's

All Times EDT East Division W L Pct GB Philadelphia 65 44 .596 — Atlanta 60 49 .550 5 New York 58 51 .532 7 Washington 49 61 .445 16½ Miami 40 70 .364 25½ Central Division W L Pct GB Milwaukee 62 47 .569 — St. Louis 56 54 .509 6½ Pittsburgh 55 54 .505 7 Chicago 54 58 .482 9½ Cincinnati 52 57 .477 10 West Division W L Pct GB Los Angeles 63 47 .573 — Arizona 59 51 .536 4 San Diego 59 52 .532 4½ San Francisco 55 56 .495 8½ Colorado 41 70 .369 22½ Friday's Games Chicago Cubs 6, St. Louis 3 San Francisco 3, Cincinnati 0 Atlanta 5, Miami 3 Milwaukee 8, Washington 3 Arizona 9, Pittsburgh 8 Oakland 6, L.A. Dodgers 5 Seattle 10, Philadelphia 2 Colorado 5, San Diego 2 N.Y. Mets 5, L.A. Angels 1 Saturday's