The Cincinnati Reds sit at 27-25 after splitting Saturday’s day-night doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals. The Reds lost 8-1 in the opener. They rallied for a 7-6 victory in 11 innings. This secured the split and snapped a divisional skid.
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MLB Game Recap
Cincinnati earned the Game 2 win. Spencer Steer scored on Blake Dunn’s 11th-inning fielder’s choice. He survived a sliding play at the plate, and it was upheld by replay review. The nightcap featured home runs from Elly De La Cruz and Nathaniel Lowe, while spot starter Chase Petty (5.0 IP, 4 ER, 6 H, 1 K, 62 pitches) kept the team competitive through five innings. Pierce Johnson earned the win with two perfect innings of relief. Tony Santillan had earlier surrendered a two-run lead in the ninth.
Standout Performer
Nathaniel Lowe provided the most consistent offensive spark on Saturday. He became the first Red this season to homer in both ends of a doubleheader. In the second game, he finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. He scored twice. This performance included a towering 435-foot solo shot to center field. This home run initially helped build a mid-game lead.
Key News & Notes
The Reds executed a major bullpen shuffle on Saturday. They activated Caleb Ferguson from the 15-day IL. They also recalled Zach Maxwell and Chase Petty from Triple-A. In corresponding moves, the team optioned Connor Phillips and Jose Franco to Louisville. Manager Terry Francona confirmed that Ke’Bryan Hayes will head to Arizona. He will begin his rehab process for a lumbar bulging disc.
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Farm Report
- Triple-A: Noelvi Marte (2-for-4, HR) helped Louisville split a doubleheader against Columbus. They won Game 1 with a 5-0 score. However, they faced a 7-3 loss in Game 2.
- Double-A: Chattanooga’s matchup with Rocket City was suspended in the 4th inning due to rain. The Lookouts were leading 3-0. Completion is set for Sunday.
- High-A: Kyle McCoy made his team debut. He pitched 5 innings with 0 earned runs, allowing 2 hits and 4 strikeouts. His performance led the Dayton Dragons to a 5-0 shutout victory over Fort Wayne.
- Single-A: Sheng-En Lin (6.0 IP, 0 ER, 6 K) was dominant for Daytona, allowing just six hits in a 3-0 win over Jupiter.
- ACL Reds: Jalen Hairston (2-for-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI) was a standout in a 12-2 win over the Dodgers. Ryjeteri Merite struck out a career-high 11 batters.
Looking Ahead
The series concludes Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. Brady Singer (2-4, 6.26 ERA) takes the hill for Cincinnati against Cardinals southpaw Matthew Liberatore (2-2, 4.70 ERA).
Breaking a long divisional slump with an 11th-inning walk-off on a fielder’s choice is the definition of “ugly but effective.” What do you think?
