In a sun-soaked showdown in Goodyear, Arizona, the Cincinnati Reds and San Diego Padres delivered a thrilling back-and-forth battle that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The Reds emerged victorious, clinching an 11-10 win after a wild day that featured explosive innings and plenty of drama.
Game Highlights
The action kicked off with Chase Burns on the mound for Cincinnati. Despite a rocky start with a walk and a single, Burns showcased his resilience by striking out Ty France to escape the jam in the first inning. He continued to dance around trouble in the second, picking off a runner and adding two more strikeouts to his tally.
The Reds' offense sprang to life in the bottom of the second. Will Banfield came up clutch, clearing the bases with a 3-run double, giving Cincinnati an early lead. San Diego responded in the third when Rodolfo Duran launched a solo homer off Burns, who exited after a solid outing.
Nick Sando took over but faced immediate pressure, walking Fernando Tatis Jr. and surrendering a 2-run blast to Manny Machado, which evened the score. Chase Petty then entered and delivered two hitless innings, keeping the Padres at bay.
Cincinnati's bats erupted in the fifth, orchestrating a six-run rally. Key contributions came from TJ Friedl, Matt McLain, and Elly De La Cruz, who all delivered crucial hits. Despite striking out twice in the inning, Banfield's earlier heroics kept the momentum alive.
However, the Padres weren't done. Graham Ashcraft struggled in the sixth, allowing a grand slam to Machado and six earned runs before being pulled. JP Ortiz stepped in to stop the bleeding, maintaining the Reds' slim lead.
Tyler Callihan provided a spark in the bottom of the sixth, blasting an 84 MPH changeup over the right-center wall for a go-ahead solo homer, his first of the spring.
The Padres tied it up in the eighth with a double and an RBI single against Zach Maxwell. But the Reds answered back in their half, with Callihan once again at the center of the action. His double set up Cam Collier's RBI single, putting Cincinnati ahead 11-10.
Will Cannon took the mound in the ninth, tasked with preserving the lead. He efficiently retired the side on just 11 pitches, sealing the victory and improving the Reds' spring record to 3-2.
Key Performances
Chase Burns threw 48 pitches, 26 of which were strikes, and managed to induce 14 swings and misses. Elly De La Cruz continued his hot streak, boasting a 5-9 record this spring with all hits going for extra bases, including three doubles, a triple, and a homer.
Spencer Steer contributed with a perfect day at the plate, going 1-1 with two walks and two runs scored. Noelvi Marte and Will Banfield each drove in three runs with doubles, while Tyler Callihan shined off the bench, going 2-2 with a double and a homer.
Despite some control issues, with six pitchers walking more batters than they struck out, the Reds' staff managed to outlast the Padres. Chase Petty, JP Ortiz, Connor Phillips, and Will Cannon all delivered scoreless outings, showcasing the depth in Cincinnati's bullpen.
Looking ahead, the Reds will host the Los Angeles Angels tomorrow. Scheduled to pitch are Rhett Lowder, Julian Aguiar, Jose Franco, Sam Moll, and Yunior Marte, with first pitch set for 3:05pm ET. This matchup promises more excitement as the Reds continue to build momentum this spring.