Things got heated just seconds after Erik Miller struck out Sal Stewart to seal a 3-0 win for the San Francisco Giants over the Cincinnati Reds in the Thursday, April 16 series finale between the two teams.
Tensions were a little high coming into Thursday’s series finale. Late in Wednesday’s game, an 8-3 Reds win, San Francisco reliever JT Brubaker took issue with a late time-out granted to Cincinnati’s Spencer Steer, leading to terse words between the two. Steer was hit by the first pitch he saw in Thursday’s game. Later in the game, Giants‘ shortstop Willy Adames was hit by a pitch. Adames took issue with being hit but after Reds’ pitcher Connor Phillips was ejected, the tensions seemed to cool.
The calm seemed to be in order until just after the final out was recorded. Stewart took issue with what Miller said following the strikeout and walked out towards the mound. As Miller walked back towards Stewart, he had some choice words for a few different Reds players. Ultimately, nothing serious happened. Still, it was far livelier than the end of a game usually is, which drew a lot of reactions.
Cincinnati Reds Legend Barry Larkin Liked What He Saw
As things were cooling down on the field, Reds play-by-play man John Sadak reminded viewers that the two teams will play later this year in San Francisco and wondered if some of what happened might spill over. Color analyst Barry Larkin, meanwhile, gave his approval.
“I don’t think, John, to be quite honest, I don’t think this is a terrible thing at all for this Reds’ ballclub,” Larkin said. “I feel like that kind of fire and that kind of passion should run through the veins of every single player that’s in uniform. I love it. Of course, we don’t want guys getting hurt. Obviously, throwing at guys, can’t condone that. But the fire and the passion, the fight. Let’s have all of it. Bring the smoke.”
Other Observers Also Liked What They Saw
Larkin wasn’t the only fan of the war of words. Others watching the game or commenting on X (formerly Twitter) also enjoyed the heated war of words.
While the series didn’t end the way Stewart and the Reds wanted, it was overall a successful series for both the player and the team. The Reds took two of three in the series and Stewart homered three times, including a pair of three-run home runs in the second game.
As Sadak noted, the teams will play again this year. The Giants and Reds will square off for three games in San Francisco during the final week of August. If nothing else, that series has a lot more interest around it now than it did before Thursday’s game.
Barry Larkin, Others React as Tensions Flare Following San Francisco Giants-Cincinnati Reds Game