Spencer Steer hit a game-winning two-run homer in the 11th inning and the Cincinnati Reds overcame Alexis Diaz’s first blown save of the season in a wild 7-5 victory over the floundering San Diego Padres on Friday.
Elly De La Cruz doubled to score Jonathan India with the tying run and De La Cruz tried to score from third on Nick Senzel’s groundout to third off Drew Carlton, but was called out because he tagged the player’s left foot. receiver Gary Sanchez, a call that survived. video review Steer followed with his homer off Drew Carlton (2-1).
“It was great that it worked there,” Steer said. “We think we have a win and then the call doesn’t go the way we want. I know I said one of those moments. It was a strange situation. “I probably won’t have another one in my career. Wait and see what happens.”
Sánchez drove in Xander Bogaerts from second base in the top of the 11th to put the Padres up 5-4, but they couldn’t prevent their sixth straight loss.
David Duarte (1-0) got the final out of the 11th for his first career win with the Reds.
Matt McLain extended the game with a two-out, two-run homer to center field off Ray Kerr in the bottom of the tenth after San Diego received RBI hits from Fernando Tatis Jr. and Juan Soto in the top of the inning. .
“It’s a good feeling on the bench,” McLain said. “It’s kind of weird. Elly cuts the thing off of him. Throws his hand, whatever. We’ve got Spencer next. You know he’s going to swing in his zone. He’s going to have a good at-bat, no matter what. result.”
Matt Carpenter hit a game-tying sacrifice fly in the ninth, stopping Diaz’s streak of 23 consecutive saves.
Tyler Stephenson broke up a tight pitching matchup with a tiebreaking home run off Brent Honeywell in the seventh.
“The belief in the dugout and the clubhouse could be anyone,” Reds manager David Bell said. “We saw three guys come off the bench and also hit well.”
The top two Padres reached against Díaz in the ninth and advanced on Sánchez’s deep fly to left, setting up Carpenter’s tying fly.
The Reds have won three in a row after losing three in a row. They lead the majors with 30 come-from-behind wins and have won 15 games in their last at-bat, including five start wins.
The Reds got San Diego starter Seth Lugo, who replaced the ailing Yu Darvish, with five hits and one unearned run while striking out six in six innings.
“This team has suffered some heartbreaking losses,” said Lugo, who made his third start since coming off the 15-day disabled list. “However, I think we played a good match. I think today is something to build on.”
Reds right-hander Graham Ashcraft tied his season high with seven strikeouts and lasted 6 2-3 innings. He allowed only Trent Grisham’s leadoff homer in the sixth inning between three hits and two walks.
Grisham’s shot was his second in two games.
With a playing temperature of 88 degrees and high humidity, both starting pitchers opened with five scoreless innings.
The Reds capitalized on Grisham’s two-out, two-out error off a De La Cruz fly ball with Jake Fraley’s game-tying single to center field. Grisham appeared to be distracted by left fielder Juan Soto.
The starters got help from their defense. Padres third baseman Manny Machado dove to his right to hit De La Cruz’s down-the-line backhand on the first pitch of the bottom of the second inning. Reds center fielder T.J. Friedl caught Sanchez’s fifth-inning leading line drive over his shoulder.