Giants roll past Reds 4-1 behind gem from top pitching prospect Kyle Harrison

SAN FRANCISCO — Kyle Harrison’s home debut at Oracle Park was as electrifying as the pitches he was throwing.

Just as rewarding, too, because it came in front of a crowd of 24,581 that included a throng of family and friends.

Harrison, who went to high school about 30 minutes east of San Francisco, struck out 11 in his first career victory as the Giants beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Monday night for their third consecutive win.

“Momentum’s a big thing in this game,” Harrison said. “I had a lot of support behind me and it was an awesome day.”

Wilmer Flores, Patrick Bailey and Wade Meckler each had an RBI double for the Giants, who moved within a half-game of Arizona for the final NL wild card.

Elly De La Cruz had an RBI double for the Reds, who remained 1 1/2 games behind the Diamondbacks for the last National League playoff berth.

Six days after making his long-awaited major league debut in Philadelphia, the 22-year-old Harrison was welcomed with multiple standing ovations at Oracle Park, where every strikeout was cheered loudly.

Harrison, a third-round draft pick in 2020, allowed three hits and walked two in 6 1/3 shutout innings. The team’s top pitching prospect was pulled after Christian Encarnacion-Strand doubled and TJ Friedl walked.

Before exiting, Harrison (1-0) was as dominant as billed following an uneven debut against the Phillies that lasted only 3 1/3 innings. The left-hander became the first Giants pitcher to retire the first five batters of a game by strikeout since Hall of Famer Randy Johnson did it against Colorado on May 1, 2009. Harrison also worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the fifth by getting Luke Maile to fly out before whiffing TJ Hopkins.

According to the Giants, Harrison is the second starting pitcher since 2000 to have double-digit strikeouts…