How Closely Did You Watch?
Five questions. Test what you know about the Reds' best road stretch in years.
Who drove in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning against St. Louis?
- Elly De La Cruz — De La Cruz hit a solo home run earlier in the game, but the 10th-inning hero was someone else coming off the bench.
- Sal Stewart — Correct. Stewart came off the bench and lined a pinch-hit single to right field, scoring automatic runner Tyler Stephenson and giving the Reds the lead for good.
- Nathaniel Lowe — Lowe was huge in the 10th — his two-run single extended the lead after the bases were loaded — but Stewart's hit came first and made it possible.
- KeBryan Hayes — Hayes contributed a solo home run, but he wasn't the 10th-inning hero. The go-ahead RBI belonged to pinch hitter Sal Stewart.
Kyle Leahy set a career high against the Reds on Sunday. What did he accomplish?
- Nine strikeouts in six innings — Correct. Leahy fanned nine Reds batters across six innings — a career high — while allowing one walk and six hits, including solo homers by De La Cruz and Hayes.
- Retired 18 straight batters — Not quite — De La Cruz and Hayes both went deep off Leahy. His career high was nine strikeouts in six innings.
- Threw his longest outing of the season — Leahy went six innings, but the career milestone was his strikeout total — nine punchouts, which set a new personal best for the Cardinals starter.
- Went seven scoreless innings — He allowed runs — both De La Cruz and Hayes went deep — and he pitched six innings, not seven. His career high was the nine strikeouts.
The Reds had a key injury concern Sunday. Who left the game and why?
- Andrew Abbott — arm fatigue after six innings — Abbott's exit was routine — he completed his six-inning start. The injury issue involved a position player who fouled a pitch off the end of his bat.
- Tyler Stephenson — hamstring tightness scoring in the 10th — Stephenson actually scored the go-ahead run in the 10th as the automatic runner. The player who left hurt was second baseman Spencer Steer.
- Spencer Steer — right wrist pain after fouling a pitch — Correct. Second baseman Spencer Steer left in the fifth inning with right wrist pain after fouling a pitch off the end of his bat. The team said he would have imaging and see a hand specialist on Monday.
- Eugenio Suarez — intentionally walked to protect him — Suarez was intentionally walked by the Cardinals in the 10th — a strategic move, not an injury. Spencer Steer was the player who exited hurt with right wrist pain.
Julian Garcia earned his first career save Sunday. What happened before he locked it down?
- He allowed the automatic runner to score on an Alec Burleson single — Correct. Garcia gave up a run when Alec Burleson singled to score the automatic runner in the 10th, but he held on from there to record his first career save.
- He struck out the side in order — Garcia's first career save was not a clean inning — Alec Burleson singled to score the automatic runner before Garcia sealed it out.
- Brock Burke handed him a three-run lead to protect — Burke was excellent — he got out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth and threw a spotless ninth — but Garcia entered in a one-run situation and allowed a run before closing it.
- He inherited the bases loaded and struck out two — Garcia did not enter with the bases loaded. He faced the automatic runner situation in the 10th and allowed Burleson's RBI single before earning his first career save.
What is Chase Burns' record heading into his Monday start against Cleveland?
- 10-3 with a 2.98 ERA — Close but not right. Burns has been even better than that — he enters Monday's start at 12-1 with a 2.42 ERA.
- 12-1 with a 2.42 ERA — Correct. Burns is one of the best starters in baseball right now — 12-1 with a 2.42 ERA — and he takes the mound Monday night against Cleveland's Slade Cecconi at Great American Ball Park.
- 11-2 with a 2.80 ERA — Not quite. Burns' record is actually better — he's 12-1 with a 2.42 ERA entering the Monday night home matchup against Cleveland.
- 12-2 with a 3.10 ERA — Burns has just one loss on his record. He enters Monday at 12-1 with a 2.42 ERA, making him one of the most dominant starters in the NL this season.
This is what a turnaround looks like in real time. The Reds walked out of the All-Star break sitting in last place in the NL Central — not exactly the position that inspires confidence. Then they went on the road and beat Colorado, swept a series in Seattle, and closed out St. Louis. Six wins in nine tries against three different opponents.
Sunday's game in St. Louis had all the hallmarks of a Reds win that sticks: a clutch bench contribution, extra innings, a closer notching his first career save, and Chase Burns looming on the other side of the off day. That's a good feeling heading home.
The Post-Break Road Trip: Game by Game
- Series 1 — At Colorado — Won 2 of 3
- Series 2 — At Seattle — Won 2 of 3
- Series 3, Game 1 — At St. Louis — Game details
- Series 3, Game 2 — At St. Louis — Game details
- Sunday, Series 3, Game 3 — At St. Louis — Reds 5, Cardinals 3 (10 inn.)
The Sunday finale showed off the depth that makes this Reds team worth watching even at the bottom of the standings. Andrew Abbott went six solid innings. Brock Burke escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, then threw a clean ninth. And when the Cardinals intentionally walked Eugenio Suarez with two outs in the 10th to load the bases, Nathaniel Lowe answered with a two-run single to left that turned a one-run edge into a cushion.
Sal Stewart's game-winning single was the kind of bench contribution that quietly defines winning streaks. Stewart drove a line drive to right field, scoring Tyler Stephenson — who had been placed on second as the automatic runner — and suddenly the Reds had something to protect.
Sunday's Starting Pitchers: Side by Side
| Andrew Abbott (CIN) | Kyle Leahy (STL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Innings Pitched | 6 | 6 |
| Runs Allowed | 2 | 2 |
| Hits Allowed | 3 | 6 |
| Walks | 4 | 1 |
| Strikeouts | 4 | 9 (career high) |
The Game at a Glance
- 10 — Innings Played
- 9 — Leahy Strikeouts
- 7 — Cardinals L in Last 10
- 3 — Hits for Alec Burleson
The Cardinals entered Sunday having lost seven of their last 10 games — a slump made all the more visible when paired against the Reds' recent momentum. Alec Burleson was one of St. Louis' bright spots with three hits, a run, and an RBI. Ivan Herrera added a solo homer. But it wasn't enough.
For Cincinnati, the road trip ends with a renewed sense of what this team can be when things click. The Reds return home Monday night with Chase Burns — the best story in their rotation at 12-1 — ready to face Cleveland. Whatever the second half holds, the Reds have given their fans something to show up for.
What to Watch Next
- Monday Night at Great American Ball Park: Chase Burns (12-1, 2.42 ERA) starts against Cleveland's Slade Cecconi (4-7, 4.60 ERA). Burns has been one of the best pitchers in the NL this season.
- Spencer Steer Injury Update: The second baseman left Sunday's game with right wrist pain. Imaging results and a hand specialist evaluation are expected Monday.