Cincinnati Reds Edge Minnesota Twins 5-4 in Thrilling Ninth-Inning Comeback
MINNEAPOLIS — In a nail-biting finish Saturday afternoon, the Cincinnati Reds rallied late to secure a 5-4 victory over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Dane Myers delivered a clutch RBI single in the ninth inning, capping off a dramatic comeback that saw the Reds score the game’s final three runs.
The Reds’ bullpen played a pivotal role in the win, throwing 4 1/3 scoreless innings to keep Minnesota at bay. Kyle Nicolas (1-0) struck out the side in the eighth, and Tony Santillan sealed the deal with two strikeouts in a clean ninth inning, earning his first save of the season.
The decisive ninth inning began with pinch-hitter Spencer Steer reaching base on a single that deflected off Twins shortstop Brooks Lee. Steer advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on Myers’ bloop single off Twins reliever Cole Sands (0-1), giving Cincinnati the lead for good.
This victory extended the Reds’ impressive record in close games. They are now 10-0 in contests decided by fewer than three runs, tying them for the second-longest such streak to start a Major League Baseball season. The Reds are also a perfect 6-0 in one-run games this year. Their bullpen continues to shine, boasting a league-leading 2.31 ERA after tossing 3 2/3 scoreless innings in Friday’s 2-1 win over Minnesota.
The Twins initially surged ahead in the first inning with a two-run triple by Ryan Jeffers, his first since September 24, 2023. Brooks Lee added an RBI single in the fifth, giving Minnesota a 4-2 lead. However, Cincinnati clawed back in the eighth when Eugenio Suárez scored on a sacrifice fly by Rece Hinds to tie the game at 4.
Despite their early offensive success, the Twins struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities. They left 11 runners on base, including eight in scoring position, and finished just 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position.
Minnesota starter Taj Bradley turned in a solid performance, allowing two earned runs over six innings while striking out five. On the other side, Reds starter Andrew Abbott gave up six hits and four runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings, improving on his recent outings where he allowed 13 earned runs in 14 innings.
Looking ahead, the Reds and Twins will wrap up their series Sunday afternoon. Cincinnati’s Brady Singer (1-1, 5.60 ERA) is set to take the mound against Minnesota’s Bailey Ober (2-0, 5.49 ERA).
Saturday’s thrilling win underscores the Reds’ resilience and ability to perform under pressure, while the Twins will look to bounce back and salvage a series split.
— Reported by Nexio News
