Reds vs Padres Recap: Sal Stewart’s 2-HR Day Lifts Reds to 5-3 Win

The Cincinnati Reds rolled into San Diego looking to bounce back. They'd lost 6-2 the night before, but tonight felt different. The Padres had their own problems, sitting at 34-32 and trying to stay alive in a tough division. Chase Burns took the mound for Cincinnati, ready to battle Lucas Giolito. In the second inning, Tyler Stephenson lined a single to center field off an 78mph changeup. Matt McLain came sprinting home and the Reds led 1-0. Two outs, and the momentum shifted. The third inning brought more noise. Spencer Steer put the ball in play, and a fielding error by Giolito let JJ Bleday cross the plate. Cincinnati was rolling early, up 2-0 and controlling the game. The Padres had to answer back fast or things could get ugly quick.

San Diego wasn't going down without a fight. In the bottom of the third, Jackson Merrill tripled down the right field line, and Fernando Tatis Jr. raced across home plate. The crowd jumped to their feet. One pitch later, Manny Machado singled to left field, and Merrill slid into home. Just like that, the score was 2-2. The game was tied and the Padres had life again. Burns kept battling on the mound, striking out batters and refusing to let Cincinnati pull away. The Reds couldn't add on when they had chances. By the middle innings, this had become a slugfest waiting to happen. Both teams were hungry, both teams were desperate. The pressure mounted with every pitch. One mistake now could cost someone the game.

The game stayed tied through six, seven, eight innings. Both bullpens were brilliant, keeping runners off the board. Then came the tenth inning. Eugenio Suarez stepped up and doubled to left field, driving in Spencer Steer. Cincinnati led 3-2. But the Padres weren't finished. Samad Taylor smacked a single to center and Gavin Sheets crossed home. Tied again at 3-3. Everything came down to the eleventh. Yuki Matsui was on the mound for San Diego. Sal Stewart dug in. The first pitch came in, and Stewart connected. The ball screamed toward center field—407 feet of pure power. A two-run home run. Cincinnati 5, San Diego 3. The Reds were 33-34 now. They'd won their second straight and escaped San Diego with a huge victory.