Sal Stewart's HR helps Reds defeat Mariners

Sal Stewart hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the host Seattle Mariners 5-3 on Wednesday afternoon.

JJ Bleday also went deep and Brady Singer (5-9) pitched 6 2/3 quality innings as the Reds took two of three games in the interleague series, knocking the Mariners out of first place in the American League West.

Singer allowed three runs on six hits to win his second straight start. The right-hander walked one and struck out six.

Cincinnati closer Emilio Pagan, a former Mariner, worked a perfect ninth for his ninth save of the season and second in as many days.

Edwin Arroyo drew a one-out walk in the seventh off Mariners reliever Eduard Bazardo (3-3) and Ke'Bryan Hayes lined a single to center field. With two outs, Stewart hit the first pitch of the at-bat over the fence in right-center to put the Reds up 5-3.

The Mariners opened the scoring in the second inning. Josh Naylor hit a one-out single to shallow center off the glove of shortstop Elly De La Cruz and proceeded to steal second. Cal Raleigh lined a single to right, scoring Naylor.

The Reds took the lead in the fourth. Bleday led off with a homer to right off Mariners starter Emerson Hancock. With two outs, Tyler Stephenson doubled to right, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Dane Myers infield single, on which second baseman Cole Young made a diving stop to his left but was unable to cleanly get the ball out of his mitt.

Seattle regained the lead in the bottom of the frame. Dominic Canzone lined a single to right before being forced out on a grounder by Randy Arozarena. Naylor hit a ground-rule double down the left-field line, sending Arozarena to third. Both runners scored on Luke Raley's two-out single to center.

Hancock made a quality start, leaving after six innings with a 3-2 lead. The right-hander gave up two runs on five hits, with one walk and three strikeouts.

--Field Level Media