Reds Fans Gasp As Elly De La Cruz Leaves Mid Game

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Dateline: Cincinnati

It is among the rarest of sights when you look down on the playing surface at Great American Ball Park and the statuesque Elly De La Cruz is not on it.

The Reds star shortstop played in 160 games in 2024 and all 162 last season, even when he flew to the Dominican Republic on an off day to honor his sister, who just passed away.

He left the game in the fifth inning after pulling up on what normally would have been a double to the right centerfield gap that bounced off the wall. After not missing a game since, July 30, 2024 his streak of 277 straight games is in some doubt. He felt his hamstring get tight.

"He will have an MRI at 9:00 am and we will know more," a hopeful manager Terry Francona said. "He feels like he caught it before he did anything worse. I saw him pull up then I just saw him just stand there. He didn't reach for anything. Let's kind of hope. He's a pretty miraculous kid."

De La Cruz, played through leg issue's last season but stayed in the line up from wire to wire. This wasn't the same and everything hinges on the Monday morning MRI.

With assistant trainer, Thomas Vera, also acting as an interpreter, De La Cruz explained the feeling and what it means to the best of his knowledge.

"When I was running and making the turn to get to first, I felt tightness on my hamstring and immediately I decided to stop," De La Cruz said. "I felt if I keep going this could get worse. I don't think it is something bad, I really don't. We'll see what the MRI says tomorrow."

Last year's pain felt different. He had 18 home runs at the All-Star break last season but had just four after July 30. He stole 37 bases last season but just nine in his last 56 games. That was a quad injury not a hamstring.

"Last year I had a quad on my left side, this is a hamstring on my right side but no it doesn't feel the same as it felt last year," De La Cruz said. "I don't like to be out of the game. It's a little frustrating. Honestly, I don't feel that bad. We will see with the MRI tomorrow. I don't know if I will play but we will see. It could have been worse. I don't have pain or soreness. It is just tight."

Right now De La Cruz is on the longest playing streak by any Reds' player since 1970. His streak is the third active in the Major Leagues behind the Braves Matt Olson, who played in his 843rd straight today and Pete Alonso with the Baltimore Orioles, who was on a streak of 475 to start the day.

Reds Win 30th Game Avoid Sweep In Expensive Win

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Nick Lodolo cooled off the hot Atlanta Braves with his second straight quality start. JJ Bleday doubled Elly De La Cruz, who left the game early, twice. The Reds pulled out a 6-4 win.

The Reds improve to 30-28 and have not been swept in a series at home since August 16-18 against the Kansas City Royals, who come in for a three-game series starting Monday (060126).

There was drama at the end but the Reds held on.

As he has the last three games, Ronald Acuna Jr. homered. On Friday he led off the game with a home run. Today, he launched one on the first pitch from Nick Lodolo.

It is his fifth home run in the last four games, seventh in the season and the 39th time he's led off a game with a home run.

The Reds came right back against Braves' starter Spencer Strider. Elly De La Cruz singled and scored when JJ Bleday doubled into the right field corner, his 25th RBI of the season which didn't start until April 26.

The Reds took the lead in the third inning with two out, De La Cruz walked. He stole second and took third on Chadwick Tromp's throwing error. Bleday followed with his second RBI double of the game. 

"I think we're good. We've had some injuries and what not. If we keep our heads down and trust in the process. I like where we are right now," Bleday said. "I feel really good right now. I don't want to get too far ahead of myself and just win each pitch."

The Reds scored an unearned run to extend their lead in the fourth inning. Spencer Steer beat out an infield hit to shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim. Will Benson doubled over the head of Acuna in right field. When Acuna dropped the ball trying to throw to the infield, Steer scored.

Lodolo retired 12 of 13 batters until Jorge Mateo led off the fifth inning with his fourth home run of the season and second in two days. 

"I thought he (Lodolo) was pretty good," Francona said. "It was against a pretty good lineup."

De La Cruz hit a line drive to the gap in right center in the fifth. He limped around first and had to leave the game with tightness in his right hamstring. Matt McLain had to run for De La Cruz, who has a 277 game streak without missing a game. Sal Stewart singled McLain to third and Eugenio drove in the Reds fourth run with a deep fly out to Acuna in right.

The Braves loaded the bases in the sixth on singles by Harris and Ozzie Albies and a walk to Mauricio Dubon. Austin Riley hit a sacrifice fly to center to make it a one-run game. Mateo flied out to left as Lodolo kept the lead.

"They keep coming at you," Terry Francona said. "They have a fabulous bullpen. They hit the ball out of the ballpark. You can see why they are where they are."

Steer, who has reached base in 19 straight games, walked against Didier Fuentes to lead off the bottom of the sixth. Steer went to second on a passed ball and scored on a double by P.J. Higgins. 

Lodolo came out for the seventh inning he got Kim and pinch hitter Eli White on easy fly outs then cautiously walked Acuna. Brock Burke came in to pitch to Harris, who was 2-for-2 with a walk. Harris flied out to left.

"Burke did a pretty good job," Francona said. 

Lodolo had his longest outing of the season 6 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs in a quality start on five hits and four walks. He struck out four. He dropped his ERA from 5.57 to 5.20.

"I was ahead for the most part, overall I thought it was pretty solid," Lodolo said. "Today was a pretty good step. I did things I wanted to do better, the timing and everything is a good step in the right direction."

Eugenio Suarez hit his fourth home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. It came against Dylan Dodd. 

Burke retired the Braves in order in the eighth inning.

Tony Santillan started the ninth inning looking for his third save of the season but after he got Riley to fly out to left, pinch hitter Dominic Smith walked. Pinch hitter Mike Yaztremski singled to center. Sandy Leon flied out to left for the second out. Acuna drove in Smith with a single and became the tying run at first base. 

Terry Francona went to Sam Moll to pitch to Harris the count went full as Harris lined a ball down the first base line that hooked foul. Harris walked to load the bases but Matt Olson grounded out to third baseman Sal Stewart and Moll picked up his first save of the season. 

It was Moll's second career save and first since June 27, 2023 against the New York Yankees as a member of the Oakland Athletics.

Nick Lodolo Hunts The Braves And Spencer Strider

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Nick Lodolo has the Hurculean task of shutting down the team with the best record in baseball, the Atlanta Braves on Sunday (053126).

Spencer Strider will simultaneously try to bring the Reds down to the .500 mark.

Lodolo, who didi not start the season in the rotation with a blister, is making his fifth start with a 1-1 record and an elevated ERA at 5.57. Based on his last start, however, Lodolo appears to be on the right track. He pitched six innings, allowing a run on six hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. 

He has one career start against Atlanta, in which he pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. It came in an 11-inning loss to the Braves on May 8 last season.

Strider is 3-0 with a 3.46 ERA in five starts. The Braves fourth round choice in the 2020 draft out of Clemson University, Has walked 15 batters in 26 innings and struck out 32. His 5.2 walks-per-game is the highest in his career.

He allowed three runs on three hits and three walks in his last start against the Boston Red Sox. He gave up home runs to Jarren Duran and Cedanne Rafaela.

Strider has three career appearances, including two starts against the Reds, lifetime. He is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA against the Reds. He last faced the Reds in a start on April 12, 2023. He pitched five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks. He struck out nine.

The Reds lineup:

Blake Dunn CF

Elly De La Cruz SS

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 3B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Nathaniel Lowe 1B

Spencer Steer 2B

Will Benson RF

P.J. Higgins C

The Braves face Lodolo with this lineup:

Ronald Acuna Jr. RF

Michael Harris II CF

Matt Olson 1B

Ozzie Albies 2B

Mauricio Dubon LF

Austin Riley 3B

Jorge Mateo DH

Ha-Seong Kim SS

Chadwick Tromp C

Atlanta Braves Use Home Run Ball To Win 40th Game

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Atlanta Braves became the first team in baseball to win 40 games by hitting four solo home runs, including two by Ronald Acuna Jr. to defeat the Reds 5-2 and take a two game lead in the series.

The Braves are 40-19 with the best record in baseball. The Reds lost their third straight game and fell to 29-28.

The Braves scored in the second inning against Singer. Ozzie Albies hit a ground rule double down the left field line to open the inning. Dominic Smith grounded out to first with Albies moving to third. Singer walked Mauricio Dubon. Mike Yastremski singled Albies home sending Dubon to third. 

Jorge Mateo missed a squeeze attempt and the Reds had Dubon caught but Tyler Stephenson's throw to Eugenio Suarez at third tip off his glove. The Reds caught a break when the third base bag stopped the ball. Suarez threw home in time to catch Dubon. Home plate umpire, Marvin Hudson, signalled out. The Braves challenged. The call was upheld.

JJ Bleday hit his ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the second. Scoring Spencer Steer who walked against Martin Perez. 

The Braves tied it with Acuna's fifth home run of the season. He has hit a home run in each of his last three games. 

Jorge Mateo hit his third home run of the season in the fifth. Singer walked Acuna, Michael Harris II and Matt Olson to fill the bases with two outs. Singer got Abies to fly out to end the inning.

"It was a mixed bag. The last inning they really made him work," Francona said. "He got that big out that kept us in it. The ball was really coming out (of his hand) better than we've seen it. When he makes a mistake, he's been paying for it. That's a dangerous team over there."

Singer finished five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and four walks. He struck out two. The two home runs allowed increase his total to eight allowed in his last three starts.

Singer's had 13 days off between starts.

"I felt like my stuff was a little better. Obviously, I don't like the walks," Singer said. "I guess a little time is good and bad. You get a little break for your body but your routine is a little off. I had a good bullpen this week and worked on stuff; some mechanical stuff. I didn't like the walks but I've been getting hurt in the zone a lot. The Mateo home run the pitch just spun out on me. I was going for the outside to get a little chase there but it just spun in the middle of the plate."

Perez, Tyler Kinley and Dylan Lee held the Reds scoreless on four hits from the third through the seventh.

Tejay Antone took over in the top of the sixth for Cincinnati. Antone pitched a scoreless sixth.

Brock Burke entered the game in the seventh and retired the first two batters but Matt Olson unloaded his 16th home run of the season, a line drive to the opposite field to increase the Braves lead to 4-2. 

Tony Santillan pitched a scoreless eighth inning.

Robert Suarez pitched a 1-2-3 eighth. He has allowed just two earned runs in 25 games, covering 25 1/3 innings.

Lyon Richardson, who joined the Reds before the game when, Pierce Johnson was placed on the 15-day injured list. Acuna hit his second home run of the game and sixth of the season in the ninth inning with two outs. He has now hit four home runs in his last three games with his 15th career multi-home run game. 

Former Red Raisel Iglesias entered the ninth to try to nail down his 10 save in 10 tries. He came into the inning with a 1.08 ERA. He had no trouble in the ninth to secure the win for the Braves.

Dane Myers was in the original lineup for the Reds but was sent home sick. The trainers believe it was food poisoning according to Francona.

More Bullpen Shuffling For Reds

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds placed RHP relief pitcher Pierce Johnson on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right elbow.

The Reds selected the contract of Lyon Richardson from Triple A Louisville. 

 To make room on the 40-man roster the team designated Kyle Nicolas for assignment.

Johnson appeared in 24 games with a 2-1 record and one save. He has a 3.27 ERA.

Richardson appeared in 18 games at Louisville with a 2-2 record and 4.75 ERA. 

Nicolas pitched in seven games for the Reds with 1-0  record and 8.59 ERA.

In Louisville he appeared in  14 games with a 6.59 ERA.

Brady Singer Back After Long Rest Gets Ball Against Braves

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Brady Singer was scheduled to start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday the 24th of May. Rain canceled the start and Singer has not pitched in a game since his start in Cleveland on May 17.

Singer will get the ball against the Atlanta Braves in an attempt to even the series at a game apiece.

Singer is 2-4 with a 6.26 ERA in 10 starts. He has allowed three home runs in each of his last two games. Against Cleveland last time out he pitched four innings, allowing five runs on seven hits, of which three were home runs. He had two quality starts in a row. On April 14 he pitched six innings and gave up one run. His next outing on April 19 he allowed three runs in six innings. His last win was on April 25 against Detroit but he only lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs. In his last four starts, Singer has allowed 16 runs in 17 innings.

The 29-year old right hander is 2-3 with a 3.04 ERA in five starts. His last start against St. Louis was on September 17 last season. He was the winning pitcher in a 6-2 verdict in which he pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing two runs, one earned on three hits.

He has four starts, lifetime, against the Braves with a 1-3 record and 5.48 ERA. Singer made two starts against Atlanta last season. He was the losing pitcher on May 5, allowing four earned runs on seven hits in six innings. He beat them with six scoreless innings in an afternoon start on August 1. He allowed four hits and a walk and struck out 10, which was his season high. 

Left hander Martin Perez is scheduled to start for the Braves. He is 35-years old with 15 years of experience. Perez has 286 starts with a 93-96 record and 4.37 ERA.  He pitched his first seven seasons with the Texas Rangers. He pitched for the Minnesota Twins for a year, then the Boston Red Sox for two seasons. He returned to Texas for two years, then came to the National League for the first time with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2024. He was traded to the San Diego Padres at the trading deadline. The Chicago White Sox signed him for the 2025 season. Perez signed with the Braves in February a week before spring training but was granted free agency on April 14 only to resign on April 15.

This season for the Braves, Perez appeared in 11 games. He started seven of them. He owns a 2-3 record with a 2.70 ERA. He walked 15 in 46 2/3 innings and struck out 40. He has given up five home run balls. For his career he has a ,283 split against right handed batters and a ,237 against left handed batters. This season it is exactly even at .200 but four of his five homer were hit by right handed batters.

Perez made two career starts against the Reds with a 1-0 record in 13 innings. He allowed just one unearned run against them. He last faced the Reds in 2023 as a member of the Texas Rangers. He started against the Reds on April , 2023 and allowed the one unearned run in 6 1/3 innings, with six hits and a walk, striking out five.

The Reds lineup has one left hander in it, It is:

Blake Dunn RF

Elly De La Cruz SS

Sal Stewart DH

Eugenio Suarez 3B

Spencer Steer 1B 

JJ Bleday LF

Tyler Stephenson C

Matt McLain 2B

TJ Friedl CF

The Braves lineup against Singer is:

Ronald Acuna Jr RF

Michael Harris II CF

Matt Olson 1B

Ozzie Albies 2B

Dominic Smith DH

Mauricio Dubon 3B

Mike Yasztremski LF

Jorge Mateo SS

Sandy Leon C

Braves Scalp The Sheriff Retains MLB Best Record

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Atlanta Braves showed Chris Paddack and the Reds why they have the best record in baseball. They scored early off the newest Reds' starter with four runs in the first to innings on the way to an 8-3 win, improving to 39-19. 

Paddack, the sheriff,  lost his second decision as a Reds' pitcher and dropped to 0-7 on the season as the Reds dropped to 29-27 on the season. 

Ronald Acuna Jr. opened the game with his fourth home run of the season against Reds' starter, Chris Paddack. It was the third time Acuna has led off a game with a home run.

After that Blake Dunn took over, the next batter, Michael Harris II made a bid for his 13th home run of the season but Dunn plucked it out of the first row of the seats in right center field. Matt Olson hit a line drive off the base of the fence in right. Dunn played the carom and threw a strike to Elly De La Cruz to nail Olson at second base.

"It didn't start off great after giving up a leadoff homer," Paddack said. "I definitely owe Dunn a steak dinner. You never want to see those plays because it shows I'm not pitching well but robbing the home run and the throw out at second was impressive. I said after the last start, I feel like it's been a trend, I'm walking guys, getting out of the zone on counts I want to be putting away guys. All three of the walks scored. When I don't walk guys and attacking the zone, I'm able to put up some zeroes. I just have to be better."

The Braves loaded the bases in the second inning. Dominic Smith singled. Austin Riley and Mike Yastremski walked to load the bases with no outs. Jorge Mateo forced Yastremski at second as Smith scored. Chadwick Tromp flew out to right to plate Riley. Mateo stole second as Acuna walked. Harris singled to score Mateo. 

JJ Bleday took Braves starter, Grant Holmes, out of the park with his eighth home run of the season. Sal Stewart followed with a double down the left field line. Stewart was thrown out attempting to steal third, right before Nathaniel Lowe belted his ninth home run of the season. Spencer Steer singled with two outs. 

The Reds put pressure on Holmes in the fifth. TJ Friedl bunted for a base hit to start the inning. Dunn flied out. De La Cruz struck out but Bleday singles to right as Friedl took third. Stewart drove in the Reds third run with a single off reliever Didier Fuentes.

"The first inning could have been worse, the leadoff home run, then Dunner makes a good play and then another good play," Francona said. "I could have gotten ugly. To Paddack's credit, he hung in there. He got us through five where, even after an off day we didn't want to get into our bullpen in the second inning. DJ thought Paddack had about had it. He was starting to get pitches up. He had 86 pitches."

Yunior Marte took over for Paddack in the sixth. Paddack lasted five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and three costly walks. He struck out no one and allowed a home run.

Smith greated Marte with a single and he hit Riley with a pitch. Yastremski doubled to score Smith and put runners on second and third. Mateo singled to score Riley. Marte struck out Tromp. Acuna was walked intentionally. Caleb Ferguson took over and Harris third hit of the game scored two runs. He struck out Olson and Albies to end the inning.

"There is so much to like there with Marte. Like we talked about before the game he's just not quite consistent enough with his pitches. He throws some really good ones, then he leaves one over the plate. Give DJ some time to work with him," Francona said. 

The Sherrif Versus Holmes At GABP

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds open a three-game series against the hottest team in Major League baseball when the Atlanta Braves try to ambush the Reds at Great American Ball Park.

The Reds send the "Sheriff" Chris Paddack to stop them.

The Reds picked Paddack off waivers on May 13 and he's turned in two decent starts for the Reds. 

"He's tried to simplify his arsenal a little bit," Terry Francona said. "He's spun the ball and his change up's been good. It is the third start we've seen him so we don't know him all that great but it's been fun getting to know him. He's a good kid and he's throwing strikes. This will be a good challenge for him tonight but he's been welcome."

Paddack's two starts for the Reds both resulted in losses. He pitched five innings against the Cleveland Guardians on May 16, allowing two earned runs. He pitched five innings in his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, allowing three runs in five innings.

Including his time with the Miami Marlins, Paddack is 0-6 with a 6.86 ERA in eight starts. 

Paddack has five appearances with four starts against the Braves, lifetime. He is 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA. His last appearance against them was on September 19 last season as a member of the Detroit Tigers. He gave up two runs in five innings on three hits, including a home run to Ha-Seong Kim.

His mound opponent is Grant Holmes as opposed to Sherlock Holmes.

He is 3-2 with a 3.78 ERA in 10 starts, four of them quality starts. He is 2-1 in his last five starts, his last on May 23 against the Washington Nationals. He allowed two runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. Prior to that he shutout the Boston Red Sox for six innings on five hits and a walk.

Holmes has pitched against the Reds four times with two starts during his career. He is 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA. His last start against the Reds was on May 7 last season. He pitched 5 1/3 innings allowing four runs on seven hits, including two home runs by TJ Friedl which is why the struggling outfielder is in the starting lineup.

The Reds lineup is:

Blake Dunn RF

Elly De La Cruz SS

JJ Bleday LF

Sal Stewart 3B

Eugenio Suarez DH

Nathaniel Lowe 1B

Spencer Steer 2B

Tyler Stephenson C

TJ Friedl CF

The Braves with the best record in baseball with a 38-19 record lineup:

Ronald Acuna Jr. RF

Michael Harris II LF

Matt Olson 1B

Ozzie Albies 2B

Dominic Smith DH

Austin Riley 3B

Mike Yastremski LF

Jorge Mateo SS

Chadwick Tromp C

Graham Ashcraft Injury Bulpen Shuffle Hunter Greene, Rhett Lowder Get Closer

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Dateline: Cincinnati

Graham Ashcraft felt soreness in his right elbow Tuesday (052626) in New York. The Reds placed him on the 60-day injured list and selected the contract of  Yunior Marte.

"I felt it a little bit last year," Ashcraft said. "I had what the called an extension overload. I felt it in the same spot, I thought that's what it was going to be. It just felt different. Last year it was isolated in a specific muscle. This year it felt like the entire flexor was strained. That's kind of a sign of an ACL sprain."

"Graham did some things for us that were a little unique for us," Terry Francona said. "We don't have anybody to do those things now. I can't tell you how I'm going to use Marte. We haven't seen him since spring training."

Marte has 102 games of Major League experience with a 2-2 record with two saves, pitching for the San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies. He has a 5.64 ERA in 113 1/3 innings with 54 walks and 105 strikeouts. Marte has surrendered 16 home run.

The Reds signed Marte to a minor league contract for the 2026 season on January 22.

This spring, Marte appeared in six games, pitching six innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits a two walks. He struck out 11. He was reassigned on March 13 and pitched in Triple A Louisville. 

"He has a big arm," Terry Francona said. "There are some inconsistencies. He is a guy who really intrigued us in spring because of the arm. He didn't start out good but he's been better. Relievers sometimes you get them on a roll. He has the stuff."

Marte pitched in relief during 20 appearances at Louisville. He has a 2-0 record with a 5.12 ERA. He finished 10 games and saved five of them. He logged 19 1/3 innings, walking 12 and fanning 26.

Ashcraft appeared in 26 games for the Reds. He had a 1-1 record and 3.33 ERA that included a four run effort in which he walked four batters on 12 pitches without recording an out. He recorded a save and pitched 27 innings, walking 16 striking out 32. He last pitched on Monday night in New York. 

Hunter Greene was back in Cincinnati after a throwing program completed in Goodyear, Arizona. He had bone chips removed from his right elbow on March 11.

"It is a massive difference. It's like a light switch. I had a conversation with (Brock) Burke not too long ago. As professionals we're used to pushing through discomfort," Greene said. "Once the discomfort's gone it's like, this is what it's supposed to feel like," Greene said. "There are a lot of mental things and trying to stay sharp. Everytime, I've had to rehab, there is a different perspective that I get. My situation is not as daunting or as bad as I feel. It is special to have those epiphanies and those moments. It gives you a perspective that it's not as bad as how I feel."

"Everybody is panicking and it's like, 'Oh man, sidelined again.' It's my career. It's my life. You don't think I'm the most frustrated and affected by it? So when you go through that and you see other people's life situation. It really gives you that perspective," Greene explained. 

Greene was scheduled to throw a bullpen today, his second and he will throw a third bullpen on Monday. 

Rhett Lowder will pitch on Tuesday night for the Louisville Bats in Memphis. He is scheduled to throw 70 pitches.

Key Hits Elude Reds Denied Sweep

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds didn’t get a key hit when they needed one stranding 17 base runners in a 4-2 loss to the New York Mets.

 It was a bullpen day for the Mets.

The Reds were 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position.

“We just didn’t hit some far enough,” Terry Francona said. “We had good at bats throughout.”

There modest winning streak ends at three wit the Atlanta Braves due in for the weekend.

Andrew  Abbott gave up two out home runs to Juan Soto, his 12th and Eric Wagaman his first of the year.

The Reds created plenty of traffic for opener Huascar Brazoban and bulk pitcher Jonah Tong but managed one unearned run through five innings. 

Tong pitched 3 2/3 allowing an unearned run on three hits but he walked four, while getting credit for the win.

Elly De La Cruz reached on a throwing error by Tong. Nathaniel Lowe singled with two outs to score De La Cruz.

A two-out error by De La Cruz allowed the Mets to extend the lead after Luis Torrens and Carson singled to score Brett Baty.

Tyler Stephenson opened the bottom of the sixth with a double off Tobias Myers. TJ Friedl popped up in the infield. Blake Dunn singled for his second hit of the game but Stephenson had to stay at third. De La Cruz was hit by a pitch by lefty Brooks Ramey, loading the bases. JJ Bleday was retired on an infield fly. Sal Stewart beat out an infield hit to score Stephenson.

Abbott finished with six innings, allowing three runs, two earned on five hits and a walk. He struck out four.

Benge drove in another run after Jared Young single to start the seventh off Zach Maxwell. “Big Sugar” got the next two batters but Benge single restored the Mets two-run lead. Maxwell walked Bichette and Terry Francona brought lefty Caleb Ferguson to face Soto in his first appearance of the year. Ferguson recovered from a strained oblique. Backup catcher PJ Higgins was called for catcher’s interference but got Mark Vientos to foul out to Dunn in right.

Devin Williams relieved Luke Weaver who held the Reds for x innings.

Williams came into the game with a lifetime 34 appearances against the Reds. He had a 2-1 record and a 1.32 ERA. He finished 17 games in those appearances with 15 saves.

He walked three batters but struck out three getting Myers and Dunn in strikeout s with the bases loaded for his eighth save of the season.

Every Reds’ starter reached base at least once and three of the four bench players reached base, Higgins with a walk, Matt McLain and Will Benson were pinch runners. Only Myers failed to reach base.