“Stephenson’s Late Heroics Turn Tight Battle Into Reds Triumph”
Tyler Stephenson crushed a dramatic two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning on Tuesday night, giving the visiting Cincinnati Reds a 4-2 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. The blast—his 10th of the season—broke a 2-2 tie and kept Cincinnati in the thick of the National League Wild Card chase.
Gavin Lux extended the inning with a two-out walk off reliever Robert Suarez (4-6), setting the stage for Stephenson’s no-doubt shot into the left-field seats. The win brought the Reds (73-72) to within three games of the final NL Wild Card spot, currently held by the New York Mets.
Cincinnati’s bullpen was stellar, with Connor Phillips (2-0) tossing a clean eighth and Emilio Pagan locking down his 27th save with a perfect ninth. The Reds’ staff allowed just three hits all night.
The Padres (79-66), meanwhile, now trail the NL West-leading Dodgers (81-64) by two games.
🎯 Game Highlights & Key Storylines:
- Michael King returns to San Diego’s rotation after a month on the IL (knee inflammation), and looked solid in his five-inning outing—despite a couple of early mistake pitches.
- Sal Stewart and Will Benson each homered in the first two innings to give the Reds an early 2-0 lead.
- Zack Littell gave Cincinnati six strong innings, allowing just two hits and two runs.
- The Padres tied it up in the fifth with a triple from Jackson Merrill and a sac fly by Jake Cronenworth, but couldn’t break through in the late innings.
- Defensive highlight: In the fourth inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. robbed Stephenson of extra bases with a leaping grab at the wall—only for Stephenson to have the last laugh in the ninth.
📊 Betting & Standings Implications:
- Reds improve to 73-72, gaining crucial ground in the Wild Card race.
- Padres fall to 79-66, losing ground in the NL West standings.
- Stephenson now has 10 home runs and continues to deliver in clutch spots, possibly shifting betting trends in player prop markets.
🧊 Deadspin Take: Stephenson might’ve been robbed earlier by Tatis, but his late-game redemption could prove to be a season-defining moment. The Reds are alive—and dangerous.
About the Author
