SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants’ lineup has been ravaged by injuries and trades in recent weeks, but it still has one bona fide slugger to count on: Rafael Devers.
The three-time All-Star flashed his game-changing power by crushing a three-run home run that carried the Giants to a 5-0 series-opening win over the Reds on Monday night at Oracle Park.
The Giants found themselves extremely shorthanded after losing three players -- including shortstop Willy Adames -- to the injured list on Monday. But they managed to jump out to an early lead against All-Star right-hander Chase Burns, who was tagged for five runs over 3 2/3 innings.
The Giants kicked off the bottom of the first with four straight hits against Burns, including an RBI single from Jung Hoo Lee and an RBI double from Turner Hill, who batted cleanup in his seventh career big league game.
San Francisco extended its lead behind a two-out rally in the bottom of the second. Christian Koss and Drew Gilbert singled to set the table for Devers, who proceeded to crush a 97.9 mph fastball from Burns out to right-center field that made it 5-0 Giants.
Devers’ team-leading 27th home run of the year traveled a Statcast-projected 427 feet and had an exit velocity of 108.9 mph.
The Giants managed to overcome the loss of starter Carson Whisenhunt, who departed his start after only 2 2/3 innings due to left elbow pain. San Francisco’s bullpen provided shutdown relief after Whisenhunt exited the game, with Jason Foley, Reiver Sanmartin, Ryan Walker, Carson Seymour and Dylan Smith combining to toss 6 1/3 scoreless innings.