Nick Senzel hit a leadoff homer after a swarm of bees finally left home plate, and the rookie connected again his next time up Monday, leading Cincinnati to a 12-4 victory over the San Francisco Giants.
The wild game included a record-tying four Reds getting plunked in one inning. Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval pitched the eighth and also hit a batter.
The first pitch was delayed 18 minutes as bees swarmed above the backstop screen, prompting umpires and players to keep a safe distance before the bees flew away.
It was the Giants' second bee delay in Cincinnati. Their game at Riverfront Stadium on April 17, 1976, was held up for 35 minutes when bees invaded the visiting dugout. The Reds went on to win 11-0. Another game at Riverfront _ this one against the Phillies _ was delayed for 17 minutes in 1987, with Reds starter Ted Power getting stung on his hand.
Four Reds were hit by pitches during the sixth inning — two with the bases loaded — to tie the major league record for an inning. Four Boston batters were plunked by Pittsburgh in 1893.
When Sandoval made his second career pitching appearance and plunked Jose Peraza in the eighth inning, it tied the NL record and set a Reds' modern record of five batters hit in a game.
Senzel was a focus of a series between the NL's two least-productive offenses. The second overall pick in the 2016 amateur draft was called up to help spark an offense batting .207, worst in the majors.
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He connected on the second pitch by Drew Pomeranz (1-4) and homered again in the second inning for a 6-0 lead. Senzel went 4 for 17 in the series with three solo homers.
Pomeranz lasted only 1 2/3 innings and gave up seven runs for the first time since 2014. Jose Iglesias had a single, double and triple and drove in four runs.
Anthony DeSclafani (2-1) gave up four runs, including Sandoval's three-run homer, in six innings.
The Reds hit 15 homers during the series, tying the club record for a series. They also hit 15 during a three-game series against the Phillies in 1999 that included a nine-homer, 22-3 win.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: Evan Longoria got another day to rest his sore shoulder. He has missed the last three games.
Reds: Scooter Gennett is not able to jog yet because of a groin injury suffered during spring training. Gennett is on the 60-day disabled list. There is no timetable for his return.
UP NEXT
Giants: San Francisco opens a series in Colorado with left-hander Madison Bumgarner (1-4) facing the only team he's beaten this season. He gave up two runs in seven innings of a 5-2 win over the Rockies on April 13 in San Francisco.
Reds: Tyler Mahle (0-4) makes his first career start in Oakland. The Athletics are 11-8 against the Reds in the regular season.
