In a closely contested matchup, the Cincinnati Reds secured a 4-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers, using a combination of timely hitting and solid pitching on Wednesday night.
Cincinnati’s TJ Friedl emerged as a pivotal figure in the game, delivering a crucial two-run triple that contributed significantly to the Reds’ win. Harrison Bader scored twice for the Reds, who have now claimed the first two games of the three-game series. Daniel Duarte (2-0) earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, while Alexis Diaz sealed the game with a hitless ninth inning, notching his 36th save of the season.
Cincinnati’s starting pitcher, Connor Phillips, went four-plus innings, allowing three runs, four hits, and four walks while striking out three Tigers. This performance helped the Reds (76-71) move into a tie with the Arizona Diamondbacks (76-71) for the third and final National League wild-card spot.
The Tigers’ offense was led by Spencer Torkelson, who crushed a two-run homer. However, it wasn’t enough to secure the win against the determined Reds.
Cincinnati took an early lead in the second inning as Christian Encarnacion-Strand singled and Harrison Bader walked, setting the stage for TJ Friedl’s two-run triple that landed down the right field line.
Detroit responded in the third inning when Zach McKinstry drew a leadoff walk and scored on Torkelson’s 28th homer, a just-enough shot that cleared the right field wall.
The Reds regained the lead at 4-2 in the fourth inning when Bader walked, Noelvi Marte singled, and Friedl reached base on a bunt hit, loading the bases with no outs. A fielder’s-choice grounder from Luke Maile brought home Bader, and Jonathan India struck out. However, Maile’s smart baserunning allowed Marte to score before he was tagged out.
Detroit managed to pull a run back in the bottom of the inning when Parker Meadows walked, stole second, and scored on Akil Baddoo’s opposite-field double.
Despite multiple opportunities, the Tigers struggled to capitalize on runners in scoring position, going 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position and leaving 13 on base.
The Tigers had the bases loaded with two outs in the fifth inning but failed to convert, and they stranded two runners in both the sixth and seventh innings.
The game ended with a dramatic moment when, with a runner on second and two outs in the ninth, Parker Meadows lined out to first base, sealing the Reds’ 4-3 victory over the Tigers.
