The Cincinnati Reds won their series against the Padres 2 games to 1. The Reds have now won 7 of their last 8 series.
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In the series opener on Friday, Cincinnati grabbed a 7-5 win in 11 innings over the Padres.
The Reds would lead 2-1 after a Tyler Stephenson home run in the 7th. However, San Diego would tie the game on a sacrifice fly in the 9th to send the game to extras.
The Padres would take a 4-2 lead in the 10th on a Fernando Tatis single and Juan Soto double. Cincinnati would answer, tying the game 4-4 in the 10th on a Matt McClain 2-run home run.
San Diego grabbed a 5-4 advantage in the 11th on a Gary Sanchez infield single.
The Rally Reds would strike in the bottom of the inning with Elly De La Cruz’s RBI double and Spencer Steer’s walk-off 2-run home run to win the game 7-5.
Spencer Steer finished the game 2-3 with 2 walks, a home run and 2 RBI.
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The Reds were not able to rally on Saturday, falling to the Padres 12-5.
With the game tied at 1 in the 6th, San Diego would unload a barrage of offense in the inning, with a Juan Soto hit a 3-run home run and a solo homer by Manny Machado to make it 5-1 Padres.
San Diego continued the offensive onslaught in the 7th, scoring 5 runs in the inning to make it 10-1. The Reds would have their biggest offensive moment in the 7th with a Jonathan India grand slam to make it 10-5.
That would be it for Cincinnati’s offense, as San Diego scored two more runs to seal the 12-5 win.
Brandon Williamson was handed the loss on the mound for the Reds, striking out 5 while allowing 2 runs in 5 innings.
Michael Wacha was credited with the win for San Diego, striking out 4 and walking 2 while allowing 1 run in 5 innings of work.
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The Reds took home a 4-3 win in the series finale over the Padres thanks to some late offense by Tyler Stephenson.
With the game tied at 2 in the bottom of the 8th, Tyler Stephenson would come to the plate with one runner on and two outs. The pinch-hitting Stephenson would send one over the right-field fence on the first pitch of the at-bat to give the Reds a 4-2 led.
San Diego would answer in the ninth with a two-out Jake Cronenworth RBI double to make it a one run game. However, Cincinnati closer Alexis Diaz forced Rougned Odor to line out in the very next at-bat, earning Diaz his 23rd save and giving the Reds a 4-3 win.
After the game, Diaz was announced as the Cincinnati Reds’ lone 2023 All-Star. This will be his first All-Star game appearance. The 26-year old closer is 3-1 on the season with 23 saves and a 2.19 ERA. The All-Star game will take place on Tuesday, July 11th in Seattle.
With yesterday’s win, Cincinnati improved their record to 45-39 and remain in a tie for first in the NL Central with Milwaukee.
The Reds open up a 3-game series this evening in the nation’s capital against the Nationals. Coverage on 103.9 WRBI begins at 5:35 pm.