Bengals Making More Moves Ft. Trades, Signings & Extensions + Reds Bullpen Woes Continue In Loss

The Cincinnati Reds had this one in their hands. Then, in a matter of innings, it slipped away.

The Stone Shields Show sponsors:
Get 20% off sitewide at Homage with promo code CHATTER at checkout: homage.com/CBOX

The Anthony Muñoz 78 Cigar! Get your box today: anthonymunoz.com/anthony-munoz-78-cigars

Apply today at Sharefax Credit Union: Sharefax.org or call 513-753-2440

Learn more about our friends at QC Kinetix! Call (513) 655-3356 or visit qckinetix.com

Book an appointment at Richter & Phillips today: richterphillips.com/pages/chatterbox-sports

Wednesday’s 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres was another painful example of a problem that has haunted Cincinnati throughout much of the season: an inability to finish games. The Reds carried a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the eighth after solo home runs from JJ Bleday and Eugenio Suárez helped build what looked like a comfortable advantage. Starter Brady Singer had done his job, allowing just two runs over six innings and putting the bullpen in position to secure the win.

Instead, the bullpen faltered once again.

San Diego chipped away in the eighth, getting RBI hits from Gavin Sheets and Samad Taylor to erase Cincinnati’s lead and tie the game at 4-4. What had been a promising afternoon suddenly became another tense finish for a Reds team that has struggled to lock down late leads.

The decisive blow came in the ninth. With two outs and nobody on, recently recalled right-hander Chase Petty appeared one pitch away from sending the game to extra innings. Instead, he left a breaking ball over the plate, and Fernando Tatis Jr. crushed it just over the left-field wall for a walk-off home run. Petco Park erupted as the Padres completed their comeback and secured the series victory.

For the Reds, the loss was especially frustrating because the offense did enough to win. Cincinnati collected 10 hits, hit three home runs, and received quality pitching from Singer. Yet they managed just one hit in six opportunities with runners in scoring position, leaving the door open for San Diego’s rally.

The result dropped Cincinnati to 32-35 and continued a rough stretch in which late-game execution has repeatedly undermined otherwise solid performances. When a team gets three homers and a quality start, it expects to win. The Reds got neither the win nor the series, thanks to one swing from Tatis that turned a likely victory into another gut-punch defeat.

Music from #InAudio: inaudio.org
Track Name Holy (Trap).

Music from #InAudio: inaudio.org
Track Name Exercise (Rock).