CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Sal Stewart launched a pair of three-run home runs, driving in a career-high six runs, and the Cincinnati Reds overpowered the San Francisco Giants 8-3 on Wednesday night at Great American Ball Park.

The 22-year-old first baseman provided all the early offense the Reds would need, staking Cincinnati to a commanding lead before many of the 13,822 in attendance had settled into their seats. His first blast came in the bottom of the first inning, a line drive to right-center off Giants starter Tyler Mahle that erased an early deficit and gave Cincinnati a lead it would not relinquish.

Stewart struck again in the second inning, sending another offering from Mahle deep to right-center for his seventh homer of the season. The two-homer, six-RBI performance marked a historic night for the young slugger. Stewart now has 12 career home runs, the most by a Reds batter through his first 36 games since Aristides Aquino hit 15 across the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He also became the second-youngest Reds player to drive in six runs in a game, trailing only teammate Elly De La Cruz, who did so at age 21 in 2003.

The most important sequence of the game unfolded rapidly in the first two innings, transforming the contest from a pitchers’ duel into a rout. After Mahle retired the first two Reds batters in the first, he walked Matt McLain to bring Stewart to the plate. Stewart’s first homer, which also scored TJ Friedl, instantly turned a scoreless game into a 3-0 Reds advantage. Before the inning ended, Eugenio Suárez followed with a solo shot, his third of the year, to make it 4-0.

San Francisco responded with two runs in the top of the second on a two-run double by catcher Daniel Susac, cutting the lead to 4-2. Any momentum was immediately extinguished in the bottom half. Mahle again struggled with command, loading the bases with two walks and a single. Stewart then stepped in and demolished a 1-0 pitch, extending the Reds’ lead to 7-2 and effectively sealing the outcome before the third inning began.

The offensive support was more than enough for Reds starter Rhett Lowder, who earned his second win. Lowder worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing three earned runs on five hits while striking out four. He navigated through occasional traffic, aided by two double plays turned by his defense.

De La Cruz added a solo homer, his sixth, in the fourth inning to cap Cincinnati’s scoring at eight runs. The Reds collected 10 hits in total.

The Giants, who fell to 6-12, managed nine hits but repeatedly failed to capitalize with runners on base. They went 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position and stranded eight. After Susac’s second-inning double, their only other run came in the seventh on an RBI single by pinch-hitter Heliot Ramos. Susac finished 2 for 4 with two RBIs.

Mahle took the loss for San Francisco, falling to 0-3. He was charged with all seven Reds runs in just 1 2/3 innings, surrendering five hits and four walks. The Giants’ bullpen, led by JT Brubaker’s two scoreless innings, provided stability but could not mount a comeback against the large deficit.

Cincinnati’s bullpen closed the door, with Graham Ashcraft, Pierce Johnson and Brock Burke combining for 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief to preserve the win, which improved the Reds’ record to 11-7.

The game, which lasted 2 hours and 23 minutes, finished under the projected over/under line of 8.5 runs despite the combined 11 runs scored. The Reds’ victory defied the pregame spread, which had installed San Francisco as a 1.5-run favorite.

The two teams conclude their three-game series on Thursday afternoon in Cincinnati. The Giants will then travel to face the Washington Nationals for a weekend series, while the Reds embark on a road trip starting Friday in Minnesota.