1. When the Giants used starter Barry Zito ($19 million) and former starter Tim Lincecum ($18 million) in Game 4, they dished up $37 million worth of pitching at the Reds in two arms.

2. Broadcaster Marty Brennaman threw the ceremonial first pitch, a bloopy change-up. Maybe he should have started instead of Mike Leake, who gave up five runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings standing in for Johnny Cueto.

3. The Giants had scored two runs in their previous 18 innings. Wednesday, eight of their 11 hits were for extra bases — five doubles and three home runs.

4. After all the howling about having to play the first two games in San Francisco, well, maybe the Reds should have played them all there. They beat the Giants two straight in AT&T Park with timely hitting. Wednesday, they stranded eight runners in the first four innings.

5. The Reds are on the precipice of becoming the first National League team to lose a five-game series after winning the first two. In the AL, only the 2001 Oakland A’s won the first two on the road then lost a five-game series (to the Yankees). They don’t give trophies for that.