PHOENIX – As soon as Eduardo Escobar’s two-run homer landed in the right-field seats in the fifth inning, all attention turned toward Arizona Diamondbacks starter Luke Weaver.
The drama shifted to a pitchers' bid for history.
Weaver, the 27-year-old right-hander, had a perfect game through five innings against the Cincinnati Reds lineup and a six-run lead. He overpowered hitters with his mid-90s fastball and a wicked changeup that tailed away from bats.
The Reds, who set a franchise record for most runs in the first eight games of the season, avoided making a different type of history.