Dateline: Cincinnati
The Reds made the most of its four hits, taking the Kansas City Royals to extra innings to take a 4-3 win and even the series.
Blake Dunn singled home ghost runner, Spencer Steer, who contributed two home runs to the cause against John Schreiber to complete a late winning rally. Dunn drove in the winning run in the last extra inning contest against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Royals were the last team to sweep the Reds at home August 16 through 18 in 2024. The Reds avoided a drop to the .500 mark and are now 31-29.
Noah Cameron allowed one lonely hit in seven innings and the Kansas City Royals bunched four hits around two walks to take an early lead.
"It was a real quiet night. If it wasn't Steer for awhile there, we had nothing. Their guy was kind of carving us up," Terry Francona said.
The Royals bullpen gave up a pair of home runs to send the game to extra innings.
The Royals broke up the three inning no-hitter when Salvador Perez singled. Veteran Starling Marte bunted for a single. With one out, Nick Loftin hit a single sharply to right to load the bases. Jac Caglianone bounced on off Abbott. Edwin Arroyo fielded it and got the out at first as Perez scored. Tyler Tolbert walked to reload the bases. Michael Massey singled up the middle for two more runs. He walked Lane Thomas but got All-Star Bobby Witt Jr. to foul out to Eugenio Suarez.
Cameron retired the first 13 Reds, three by strikeout. The streak ended when Spencer Steer hit his eighth home run. It broke the no-hitter, shutout and extended Steer's on-base streak to 21 games, the longest current streak in the Major Leagues.
Abbott completed six innings, with three runs on five hits and four walks. He struck out five.
"We pitched pretty good. Andrew had that really tough inning. He threw 30 pitches and just couldn't finish guys," Francona said. "There were a couple ground ball hits and a bunt. Or bullpen strung it together and did a really good job."
Tejay Antone struck out two in a scoreless seventh. Sam Moll authored a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts.
Cameron completed seven innings, retiring 21 of the 22 batters he faced.
Long haired, long, lean, lefty Matt Strahm took over for Cameron and his first assignment was Steer. It didn't work out well for Strahm when Steer deposited his second home run of the game and ninth of the season into the right field stands. It was the fourth multi-home run game in Steer's career.
"It was an unreal job by everyone," Steer said. "Abbott gave us a chance to win. The bullpen came in shut them down. Offensively, it was tough. Their starter wasn't missing over the middle of the plate. We were kind of in between. We found a way and I couldn't be happier for Will Benson. He was ready for that moment."
Cameron pitched into the seventh in his last meeting with the Reds and also allowed just one run. It was Steer that drove that run in too.
"Just sticking to my approach," Steer said. "Just trying to get him out over. I know he likes to crowd righties in. He did a really good job of that tonight. I try to get him out over and make a good swing if he makes a mistake."
Zach Maxwell kept the game close with a scoreless ninth.
Pinch hitter Will Benson lined his third home run of the season to greet Lucas Erceg to tie the game. Erceg got two quick outs before walking Sal Stewart and Eugenio Suarez but he struck out Steer to send the game to the 10th inning.
"Will with a huge hit, so we get to keep playing and we're at home," Francona said. "Once you tie the advantage goes to us. The idea was for Will to get on. Erceg has some walks or Will can get a hit and find away to get on. The home run is awesome but I don't think you really expect it."
Brock Burke pitched around the ghost runner Carter Jensen, issuing a walk Loftin but stranding Jensen at third by striking out Kyle Isbel.
Steer started the bottom of the 10th on second base. Terry Francona put up the team's top bunter, TJ Friedl to bat for Tyler Stephenson. Friedl fouled off the first pitch on a bunt attempt and took a strike to go down in the count 0-2. He struck out swinging. Dunn delivered the game winner of Schreiber to send loud Reds' fans home happy.
"I've said it a few times now. Dunn just plays the game. He is going through a little tough stretch but he plays the game. He runs to first base like his pants are on fire. Every time he hits a ground ball it's a bang, bang play. We all appreciate that."
Dunn didn't try to do too much. He kept his approach like he did the last time the Reds needed him to come through.
"The guy had a no-hitter going, then Spence hit the home run and we just helped everybody relax," Dunn said. "A couple innings later Spence hits another homer which was huge. That ninth inning I felt there was kind of an energy in the dugout. Will hits the home run which is huge. I'm not in that spot if that doesn't happen."
His approach against Schreiber.
"A guy with a good sinker like that. He's trying to run it in on your hands. He has a big sweeper of the sinker. I'm trying to get something up. The thing I'm not trying to do is get pull happy. If he comes in on me and I try to do that, I'm swinging at bad pitches. That sinker was in. It might have been off the plate but I was able to stay inside of it and punch it to right field for a base hit," Dunn explained.
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