The Reds didn’t need a barrage Tuesday night. They just needed a couple of clean, timely swings.
That was enough to turn a tight game into a 4-3 win over the San Diego Padres at Great American Ball Park, with Cincinnati putting together two runs in the bottom of the eighth and then hanging on after Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a solo homer in the ninth. Emilio Pagán finished it off for his 20th save of the season.
Nick Lodolo set the tone by giving the Reds exactly what they needed from the mound. The left-hander worked six quality innings, allowing two earned runs and five hits while walking two and striking out five. He did it on 100 pitches, 59 of them strikes, and still gave Cincinnati a chance to stay right there until the late innings.
For a Reds team sitting at 66-73, that kind of outing mattered. Lodolo has had an uneven season, one marked by multiple trips to the injured list, rough outings and too many stretches where he just hasn’t found a rhythm.
But Tuesday was different. Against a Padres lineup that can put pressure on a staff, he kept the game within reach.
Then Cincinnati cashed in with a little old-fashioned small ball.
It began with an Elly De La Cruz walk, followed by a Sal Stewart single that moved him to third. Matt McLain was then intentionally walked to load the bases, setting up Jose Trevino with one out. Trevino worked the count full, saw seven pitches in the at-bat, and then lined a sharp single up the middle to bring in De La Cruz and put the Reds in front 3-2.
Juan Brito followed with a sacrifice fly on a full count, scoring Stewart and giving Cincinnati a 4-2 cushion. That extra run turned out to be huge once Tatis homered again in the top of the ninth.
The Reds got RBIs from four different players on a night when they did just enough to win.
The series wraps up Wednesday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. Reds left-hander Brandon Williamson (2-3, 6.11) will make his first start since April 29 after a long stint on the injured list, while Padres right-hander Casey Mize (5-8, 3.45 ERA) gets the ball for San Diego. First pitch is set for 12:40 E.T. on Reds.TV and 700WLW.
In Other News...
Eugenio Suarez Will Miss Reds Games For A Moment Bigger Than Baseball
Eugenio Surez will be away from the Reds for a couple of days this week, but for a reason that reaches well beyond the box score. The veteran infielder is set to miss Cincinnatis games against the Padres on Tuesday and Wednesday while he takes his naturalization test as he continues his pursuit of U.S. citizenship, a milestone that carries extra meaning for a player who has spent multiple seasons building a strong bond with the city.
Surezs absence comes as Cincinnati keeps leaning on its power bats and the emergence of rookie Sal Stewart, who has already put together a noteworthy season at the plate. Even so, this is the kind of moment that reminds everyone around the club that baseball is only part of the story, and for Surez, the next step is one he has been working toward for a long time. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Added Two Question Marks At The Worst Time
The Reds brought Brandon Williamson back from the 6-day injured list and added Juan Brito from Triple-A Louisville as they try to patch together a roster at a time when every inning and every at-bat feels magnified. Williamson had already made six starts before landing on the shelf with a shoulder injury, and Cincinnati is clearly hoping his return gives the rotation a needed lift as the schedule keeps moving.
Britos arrival adds another layer, though his role looks likely to be modest after coming over from the Guardians at the trade deadline. The infielder is expected to see limited playing time, which leaves the Reds with two newcomers who are still trying to find their footing while the club keeps sorting out its depth and health issues. [Read more 🡒]
Eugenio Surezs Absence Forced A Reds Infield Change
Eugenio Surez is away from the Reds for the final two games of the series against the Padres, leaving Cincinnati to juggle its infield a little differently while he steps away to take his U.S. citizenship naturalization test. It is the kind of brief but unavoidable absence that forces a roster to absorb the change quickly, and the club answered by bringing up infielder Juan Brito from Triple-A Louisville to add depth.
Terry Francona and Brito both addressed the move, underscoring that the Reds are treating it as a practical roster adjustment rather than anything more disruptive. Still, whenever a regular is pulled out of the lineup for even a short stretch, it creates a small test of flexibility, and Cincinnati will spend the next couple of games sorting out how best to cover the infield until Surez returns. [Read more 🡒]