CINCINNATI (AP) — 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.
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CINCINNATI (AP) — 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.
San Francisco Giants' Michael Conforto (8) celebrates with teammates Mike Yastrzemski, center, and Jerar Encarnacion, right, following their victory over the Cincinnati Reds in a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
San Francisco Giants' LaMonte Wade Jr., right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Williams, left, as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz, right, steals third base against San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman hits a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
“We're off to a good start in the second half,” Giants manager Bob Melvin said. “We have to play much better on the road if we're going to end up going where we want to go.”
Robbie Ray (2-1), making his third start of the season, allowed two runs on three hits in five innings. He struck out nine.
The Giants led 3-2 with two outs on the sixth when TJ Friedl hit a soft grounder to Chapman, who barehanded it and threw to first for the out, preventing Elly De La Cruz from scoring the tying run from third.
“It kind of came off the bat funky. It was slow. I knew it was a do-or-die play. I had to get a good grip on it,” Chapman said. “Once I got it, it I threw it as hard as I could from down there. It was nice to keep the lead in that situation.”
The Giants put it out of reach with a five-run eighth that included Fitzgerald’s two-run homer and Michael Conforto’s two-run double.
Jeimer Candelario and Santiago Espinal hit back-to-back homers off Ray in the second inning to give the Reds a 2-0 lead. Candelario tied De La Cruz for the team lead in homers with 18.
“Honestly, even the two home runs, I felt they were pretty good pitches. Solo home runs aren’t going to beat you, especially in this park,” said Ray, a former AL Cy Young Award winner. “I got some good work in. Guys are going to hit home runs even when you throw them exactly where you want to throw them. I feel like I’m getting close. Everything is starting to come together.”
Chapman tied it in the fourth with a two-run blast against Carson Spiers (4-3). Wade put San Francisco ahead when he took Spiers deep leading off the sixth.
Chapman surpassed his home run total from last season and has four homers, four doubles and eight RBIs in his last 11 games.
“Last year I missed some time and hurt my hand a little bit,” Chapman said. “I expect myself to hit more home runs than that, for sure. When I'm healthy I'm able to do things like that.”
Spiers, who had won four of his previous five decisions, allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Chapman and Wade both homered on first-pitch sinkers.
“The game plan was to get ahead of those guys,” Spiers said. “Both of those guys came out aggressive. ... The one to Chapman, my thought process was to get a double play. I was more mad about that.”
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: CF Heliot Ramos out of the lineup with a jammed right thumb.
Reds: OF Will Benson was placed on the paternity list. Joey Weimer was recalled from Triple-A Louisville.
UP NEXT
Giants: Logan Webb (8-8, 3.49 ERA) starts the opener of a series at Washington against Patrick Corbin (2-8, 5.88) on Monday night.
Reds: Nick Martinez (5-5, 3.65) will start Monday night's series opener at Miami. Roddery Munoz (2-5, 5.45) starts for the Marlins.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray throws during the third inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
San Francisco Giants' Michael Conforto (8) celebrates with teammates Mike Yastrzemski, center, and Jerar Encarnacion, right, following their victory over the Cincinnati Reds in a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
San Francisco Giants' LaMonte Wade Jr., right, celebrates with third base coach Matt Williams, left, as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz, right, steals third base against San Francisco Giants third baseman Matt Chapman, left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
San Francisco Giants' Tyler Fitzgerald rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
San Francisco Giants' Matt Chapman hits a single during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
MEDIA, Pa. (AP) — Mourners have begun to arrive for the funeral for John and Matthew Gaudreau at a church in suburban Philadelphia on Monday.
A bus brought family members and players to St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pennsylvania, and dozens of others walked in for the service more than two hours before its scheduled start at noon.
The Gaudreau brothers died when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles in their home state of New Jersey. John, an All-Star for the Calgary Flames and Columbus Blue Jackets known as “Johnny Hockey,” and Matthew, who played collegiate hockey alongside his brother at Boston College, died Aug. 29 on the eve of their sister’s wedding.
Countless members of the hockey community from Columbus to South Jersey to Boston College are expected to join family and friends for the funeral, including the entire Blue Jackets team, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and former BC coach Jerry York.
The brothers have been mourned across the sports world, including Columbus, Ohio, where Gaudreau signed a free-agent deal in 2022 with the small-market Blue Jackets over more lucrative free-agent offers from other teams, including the New Jersey Devils. Fans and Blue Jackets players gathered last week for an emotional candlelight vigil, and a similar gathering was held in Calgary.
“The way they carried themselves around campus and the enjoyment that they had each and every day around the guys, they were really fun to be around,” Boston College associate coach Mike Ayers said. “They were both very, very talented hockey players but they were great people to be around and made everything around them fun.”
A GoFundMe for Matthew’s widow, Madeline, to support her and their baby due in December, has surpassed $645,000, with donations from nearly 9,000 people pouring in, many from NHL players and their families.
“He didn’t make the millions that Johnny did and doesn’t have the pension from the Players’ Association,” said Michael Myers of the ECHL’s Worcester Railers, for whom Matthew played two seasons. “It’s important that the hockey community recognizes that and embraces that to help Matthew’s family.”
The Gaudreau brothers were cycling on a road in Oldmans Township about 8 p.m. when a man driving an SUV in the same direction attempted to pass two other vehicles and struck them from behind, according to New Jersey State Police. They were pronounced dead at the scene.
Police said the driver, 43-year-old Sean M. Higgins, was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol and faces two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle. He has been jailed pending a Sept. 13 hearing.
The brothers have been celebrated on various social media platforms since their deaths. Katie Gaudreau, the little sister who was to be married the day after the brothers were killed, has posted pictures of her family in happier times on social media.
Over the weekend, it was an Instagram video captioned “Birds for the Gauderau boys," over a clip of John Gaudreau opening his winter coat to flash an Eagles jersey as he went through security ahead of an NHL game. She also posted a tribute to a family slideshow called “That day” where she wrote how she would “do anything to tell my big brothers I love them one more time.”
Devin Joyce, the expected groom and a collegiate hockey player, wrote of his promise “to take the absolute best care of your little sister.”
He added: “I know I never said it but I loved you guys so much. I'm so lucky to have called you two my brothers for as long as I did.”
Whyno reported from Washington.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
A memorial for Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, who died last week when they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while riding bicycles, is shown in Salem County, N.J, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024.(Jessica Griffin/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)
Shown is a makeshift memorial for NHL hockey player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew who were killed by a suspected drunken driver as they bicycled on a rural road, Sept. 5, 2024, in Oldmans Township , N.J., Thursday. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Fans attend a vigil for former Calgary Flames player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew in Calgary, Alberta, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Columbus Blue Jackets player Cole Sillinger, center, reacts during the candlelight vigil to honor Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau, Thursday, Sept. 4, 2024, outside of Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. Gaudreau and his brother Matthew were killed by a motor vehicle last week while riding bicycles. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)
Shiloh Rivera, left, mourns with Hylas Stemen, center, and Amanda Rivera of Columbus, at a memorial set up by fans for Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 30, 2024. Gaudreau, along with his brother Matthew, was fatally struck by a motorist while riding his bicycle on Thursday. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)
A tribute to Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau is seen before a baseball game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Atlanta Braves, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
FILE - Quinnipiac goalie Michael Garteig (34) makes the save on a shot by Boston College forward Matthew Gaudreau (21) during the first period of an NCAA Frozen Four semifinal NCAA college hockey game Thursday, April 7, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara, File)
Hylas Stemen, facing, of Columbus, hugs Dave Fetzer at a memorial set up by fans for Blue Jackets hockey player Johnny Gaudreau in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 30, 2024. Gaudreau, along with his brother Matthew, was fatally struck by a motorist while riding his bicycle on Thursday. (AP Photo/Joe Maiorana)
FILE - Unted States' Johnny Gaudreau, right, challenges for a puck with Latvia's Janis Jaks during the preliminary round match between Latvia and United States at the Ice Hockey World Championships in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic, file)
Boston College NCAA college hockey player Johnny Gaudreau celebrates his goal against Notre Dame during the third period of quarterfinal round match at the Hockey East Tournament in Chestnut Hill, Mass., March 15, 2014. (Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via AP)
Flowers and memorabilia for former Calgary Flames player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew lie on the grass outside the Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
Fans attend a vigil for former Calgary Flames player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthewin Calgary, Alberta, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press via AP)
FILE - Columbus Blue Jackets' Johnny Gaudreau (13) awaits the face-off during an NHL hockey game against the Nashville Predators, Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster, file)
