The Cincinnati Reds currently hold a 43-50 record following a dominant shutout victory at Great American Ball Park. Yesterday, the club began its final series of the first half. They achieved a 4-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. They made significant roster adjustments because of new injury concerns.
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MLB Game Recap
The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-0 on Friday night, fueled by a stellar start and timely power hitting. Hunter Greene provided a brilliant starting line of 7.0 innings. He allowed three hits and zero earned runs. There was one walk and 12 strikeouts. Then, the bullpen tandem of Brock Burke and Emilio Pagán combined for two perfect innings to seal the win. The game turned in the fifth inning. Elly De La Cruz broke a scoreless tie with a solo home run. Then, in the seventh inning, a three-run rally was highlighted by a JJ Bleday two-run blast.
Standout Performer
Hunter Greene: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 K. Greene rebounded from a tough July 4 debut. He recorded 12 strikeouts, tying the second-highest mark of his career. He threw 68 strikes on 93 pitches. Greene dominated the game by limiting the Cubs to just four baserunners all night. This performance provided the rotation with a needed elite showing heading into the All-Star break.
Key News & Notes
The Cincinnati Reds activated third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the 10-day injured list. He completed a successful rehab assignment where he went 7-for-12 with Louisville. The club needed to make room on the active roster. They placed Matt McLain on the 10-day injured list. This move was retroactive to July 8 due to a calf strain. Additionally, Spencer Steer made his first career start in center field. He covered for defensive depth issues. These issues were caused by ongoing injuries to TJ Friedl, Dane Myers, and Blake Dunn.
Farm Report
- Louisville Bats (AAA): Hector Rodriguez went 2-for-5 with a run in a 6-4 loss to the Omaha Storm Chasers. Louisville held a lead entering the ninth inning but surrendered four runs in the final frame to lose the game.
- Chattanooga Lookouts (AA): Alfredo Duno went 3-for-4. He scored a run during a 7-5 loss to the Rocket City Trash Pandas. Duno has now recorded two 3-hit performances in his first nine games since being promoted to Double-A.
- Dayton Dragons (A+): Peyton Stovall had an outstanding game. He went 4-for-4 with a walk. Stovall also hit a home run and had 4 RBI in a 7-5 win over the Great Lakes Loons. Stovall’s perfect night at the plate helped Dayton snap a season-high five-game losing streak.
- Daytona Tortugas (A): Jalen Hairston went 3-for-5. He hit a double and scored two runs. However, the team suffered a 19-8 loss to the Palm Beach Cardinals. The blowout loss was characterized by poor command from the pitching staff, which allowed 18 walks.
- ACL Reds (R): Jirvin Morillo went 3-for-5. He hit two home runs and had 5 RBI. It was a 10-9 loss to the ACL Angels. This marked the first multi-homer game of Morillo’s career, continuing a hot July where he has maintained a 1.468 OPS.
Deep Dive: Reds prospect Hector Rodriguez sets a new record with 2-HR night
Hector Rodriguez has reached a new career milestone. He hit his 21st home run of the season. This achievement sets a personal single-season record. This breakout is particularly notable for its efficiency. Rodriguez surpassed his previous high of 19 home runs in just 84 games. This was significantly faster than his 135-game pace last season.
The 22-year-old outfielder’s surge is backed by a fundamental shift in plate discipline. His walk rate has climbed from 7.0% in 2025 to 10.7% this year. Pitch-level data reveals that Rodriguez has become far more selective, swinging at only 46.7% of total pitches compared to a much more aggressive 60% during his Triple-A stint last year. Crucially, he has slashed his chase rate on pitches outside the strike zone from 46.2% to 33.8%.
Scouts emphasize that these are not “cheap” home runs. Ten of his 21 blasts have traveled at least 400 feet, with his longest registering at 450 feet. He currently faces a roster logjam at the Major League level. Established names like Spencer Steer and JJ Bleday are ahead of him. Beat writers suggest that his improved ability to shrink his “swing zone” makes him a far less batting-average-dependent prospect. By cutting his zone-swing rate to 62.4% and focusing on quality contact, Rodriguez has transformed into a more well-rounded offensive threat.
Looking Ahead
The Cincinnati Reds continue their series against the Chicago Cubs tonight at 7:10 PM ET. Nick Lodolo (3-2, 4.68 ERA) is scheduled to start for Cincinnati against Cubs right-hander Javier Assad (6-1, 4.15 ERA).
