CINCINNATI — Tyler Mahle has had much, much better days at Great American Ball Park.

In his first start against his former team, Mahle turned in arguably the worst start of his major league career as the Giants lost, 8-3, on Jackie Robinson Day, their fourth consecutive loss. The four home runs that Mahle surrendered were the most he’s given up in a single game, and his eight earned runs and five walks were tied for his single-game worsts.

Mahle, who was drafted by the Reds in 2013 and spent his first six seasons in the majors with the team, became the first Giant since Max Lanier in 1952 to allow four homers, five walks and eight earned runs in a single game.

Offensively, it was another tranquil night for the Giants (6-12), who have scored eight runs during this losing streak. Reds rookie right-hander Rhett Lowder, making his 10th career start, allowed three runs over 6 2/3 innings with four strikeouts amd one walk.

Rookie catcher Daniel Susac, making his first start against a right-handed pitcher, continued his hot start by going 2 for 3 with a single and a two-run double.

First baseman Rafael Devers exemplified San Francisco’s team-wide frustration after striking out in the second, slamming his bat to the ground as he walked back to the dugout, then snapping the already-broken piece of wood in two.

That wasn’t the only moment of frustration from a Giant on Wednesday night.

Right-hander JT Brubaker had a heated moment with home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott in the bottom of the seventh after Wolcott granted a timeout to Spencer Steer after Brubaker started his delivery. Brubaker took umbrage when Wolcott granted the request, then had more fiery words for Wolcott after allowing a single to Steer.

Brubaker was also dinged for an automatic ball at the very start of the inning when Jerar Encarnacion, who had a pinch-hit single in the top half of the inning, was late running out to right field.

The Reds established a quick 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first thanks to a pair of homers from the heart of their order. First baseman Sal Stewart opened the scoring with a three-run homer, then Eugenio Suárez immediately followed up with a solo homer to put the Giants in a four-run deficit.

Susac, getting his first start against a right-handed pitcher, sliced the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the second, but Stewart struck again in the bottom of the frame with his second three-run homer in as many innings to expand Cincinnati’s lead to 7-2.

Following a scoreless third inning, Mahle allowed his fourth and final homer of the night to Elly De La Cruz. While Suárez’s solo shot and Stewart’s two three-run homers were of the “Great American Small Park” variety, De La Cruz’s 442-foot blast to center field was a true no-doubter, one that expanded Cincinnati’s lead to 8-2.

The Giants had an opportunity to make up significant ground in the seventh after generating a run on four singles, cutting the deficit to 8-3, but Willy Adames struck out with the bases loaded to end the threat, his fourth strikeout of the day.

Next up

Right-hander Landen Roupp (2-1, 3.24 ERA) will attempt to play the role of stopper and help the Giants avoid being swept for the second time this season. Starting for the Reds will be the electrifying Chase Burns (1-1, 3.31 ERA), who played under manager Tony Vitello for two seasons at Tennessee before transferring to Wake Forest to finish his collegiate career.

©2026 MediaNews Group, Inc. Visit at mercurynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.