Reds Beat: Finally, A Comeback Ninth-Inning Win, And A Homestand That Gives Reds Hope Of Bigger, Better Times Ahead

CINCINNATI — The Reds are proving to be much more than just Elly De La Cruz.

The face of the franchise is having a terrific and clutch season, carrying the team offensively at many points during this season, as was the case Sunday with a two-out, game-tying single in the bottom of the sixth.

But if this past homestand against the Yankees and Padres proved anything, it’s that he has more than a capable supporting cast.

Facing Robert Suarez – the MLB leader in saves – and trailing 2-1 Sunday heading into the bottom of the ninth against a team that was 37-2 with the lead after eight innings, the Reds reached deep and found a way to deliver another huge win. Sunday’s 3-2 victory that ended with Will Benson’s walkoff capped off a homestand in which they erased a 3-0 deficit against the Yankees in the seventh and a 4-3 hole in the 11th and walkoff with a 5-4 win and a 8-1 win Friday that nearly ended in a no-hitter against a deep lineup.

The Reds got big hits during the homestand from TJ Friedl, Spencer Steer, Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Will Benson.

Another huge role player has been the relief corps.

The bullpen has been maxed out but is managing to keep the Reds in close games when the starter aren’t reaching the sixth inning. As sensational as Chase Burns was in his debut Tuesday, he could only give the Reds five innings. Andrew Abbott gave the Reds five on Saturday. Nick Lodolo got one out deep into the sixth Sunday before Scott Barlow was called upon again.

“It was hard because Pagan and Santillan needed to pitch today,” skipper Terry Francona said. “It’s hard to bring (Pagan) in when you’re losing, but they really needed to pitch. So Tony had ended up pretty good. He finished an inning and got out of it, but we really needed to pitch Pagan. So we’re fortunate this game didn’t go a whole lot longer.”

Santillan made his 40th appearance Sunday in the team’s 84th game. 32 of those outings have been scoreless.

There’s something else to note that critical to a successful team: The Reds are discovering how to win close and late. They were 0-34 this season when trailing after eight innings. That changed Sunday when De La Cruz’s cue ball shot couldn’t be handled by Tyler Wade at third. Wade was in the game because Jose Iglesias had to move to short for the cramping Xander Bogaerts.

The Reds took advantage. After Austin Hays flew out to left, Gavin Lux worked a walk from Suarez. And then three straight hits. Spencer Steer finally looks like the hitter the Reds were hoping for in his return from a right shoulder injury that limited his spring training. He’s hitting the ball up the middle and to right field, a sign that his swing is back to form. His single to center scored De La Cruz with the game-tying run.

It’s been quite the week for Steer. On Tuesday, he delivered the game-tying single against the Yankees in the 11th. On Friday, he belted three home runs and on Sunday, he came through in the clutch again.

Jose Trevino followed with a single to right, but not close enough to plate Lux from second so third base coach J.R. House smartly held Lux at third and the bases were loaded, setting the stage for Benson.

The outfielder has matured this season greatly under Terry Francona, who had him during his formative – and sometimes painful – years in Cleveland. But Francona has watched as the 27-year-old has started to seize the moment. Benson drove a 2-1 changeup from Suarez to right to plate Lux and allow the Reds to walkoff with a 3-2 win, completing a 4-2 homestand and earn their sixth series victory in seven tries. The Reds are 14-7 in the 21 games since an ugly 9-1 loss to Milwaukee on June 4.

“There’s a lot of good things that happened, because that guy’s got a really good arm,” Francona said of beating Suarez. “And we kind of bent a little bit, but we didn’t break, and we kept to where it was. So we had a chance. So often, you’re thinking that if we can just get the tying run, winning run to the plate, you’re not going to win all the time, but at least you give yourself a chance.”

There’s no disputing that De La Cruz, Matt McLain, TJ Friedl, Austin Hays and Tyler Stephenson are critical to the offensive production of this team. But teams that have playoff aspirations need supportive role players to produce. In some cases, a players like Steer and Benson could develop into part of its core. The Reds certainly hope so.

Steer and Benson, two players who don’t necessarily come to mind as players that define the 2025 Reds, are two players that could play a big role of keeping the Reds in the race for a playoff spot in the National League.