The Cincinnati Reds sit at 31-34. They suffered a 6-2 loss to the San Diego Padres. This extended their current losing streak to five games. The club struggled to find its footing on Monday night. They lost the series opener at Petco Park. The game was defined by late defensive miscues.
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MLB Game Recap
The Padres rallied for a 6-2 victory. The Reds misplayed three consecutive bunts in the seventh inning. This led to four late San Diego runs. Starting pitcher Andrew Abbott threw 6.0 innings. He allowed three runs on four hits. He struck out six. Abbott took the loss after being chased in the seventh. Relievers Tejay Antone and Zach McCambley struggled. They couldn’t contain the damage. The defense failed to execute on a safety squeeze attempt. This failure broke a 2-2 tie.
Standout Performer
Shortstop Matt McLain was a rare bright spot in the lineup. He finished the night 2-for-3 with a double and a walk. Beyond his offensive contributions, McLain kept the Reds in the game. He made a spectacular diving stop in the seventh inning. This stop prevented further Padres damage. Despite his effort, the Reds’ offense left nine runners on base and went just 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
Key News & Notes
Manager Terry Francona emphasized the heavy workload on his reliable starters. He noted that the team “forgot how to play baseball” during the seventh-inning defensive collapse. Roster movement continued. Catcher Jose Trevino joined the High-A Dayton Dragons for a rehabilitation assignment. He is recovering from a thoracic spine strain. Additionally, the team received encouraging news regarding Elly De La Cruz. They moved his MRI up to Friday. This could potentially accelerate his return from a hamstring strain.
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Farm Report
- Louisville Bats: The Triple-A affiliate had an off day on Monday. They begin a home series against the Iowa Cubs tonight.
- Chattanooga Lookouts: host the Rocket City Trash Panda in a new series starting Tuesday night.
- Dayton Dragons: The High-A affiliate was off Monday. Catcher Jose Trevino is expected to join the lineup tonight to begin his rehab stint.
- Daytona Tortugas: Host Jupiter in their next series starting Tuesday night.
- ACL Reds: No game schedule on Monday.
Deep Dive: Reds just took a big step toward getting Elly De La Cruz back
The medical staff of the Cincinnati Reds has been helpful during a difficult stretch. They moved up the recovery timeline for superstar Elly De La Cruz. De La Cruz experienced a hamstring strain, which marks the first injured list stint of his career. His MRI has been rescheduled for this coming Friday. This is three days earlier than originally planned. Hamstring injuries are notoriously unpredictable. The team remains optimistic. However, they are being cautious because of the “Grade 1 to Grade 2” nature of the strain.
Historical comparisons highlight the variability of this injury; while some players return in two weeks, others miss over a month. The Reds have a vested interest in a perfect recovery. De La Cruz has previously seen his offensive production plummet significantly. This happens when he attempts to play through lower-body injuries. He remains the team’s most valuable asset, leading in bWAR for three consecutive seasons, including 2026. The organization views him as a critical long-term investment. They must balance the urgency of a postseason push. This urgency comes with the risk of re-aggravating a chronic injury. Such an injury could turn a rising star into a long-term liability.
Looking Ahead
The Reds look to snap their slide tonight with Chase Burns (7-1, 2.05 ERA) facing Padres right-hander Lucas Giolito (2-1, 4.86 ERA) at 9:40 PM ET.
Watching a professional defense fail to field three straight bunts is a soul-crushing experience during a five-game losing streak. What do you think?
