The Cincinnati Reds slugged three home runs but couldn't hold a late lead, falling 5-4 to the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Petco Park. Spencer Steer, JJ Bleday and Eugenio Suárez all went deep for the Reds, but Chase Petty surrendered the winning run in the ninth inning as Cincinnati's bullpen collapsed in the final frame. Fernando Tatis Jr. led the Padres' attack with a two-run homer and two hits, spoiling what looked like a strong road performance for the Reds.
Reds Power Display Wasn't Enough
The Reds' offense showed plenty of pop against Padres starter Michael King, with three different players clearing the fence. Spencer Steer delivered the biggest blow with a two-run shot, going 1-for-5 on the night. JJ Bleday continued his solid season with a solo homer in his 3-for-3 performance, while Eugenio Suárez added another solo blast while collecting two hits in four at-bats.
Noelvi Marte provided additional offense with a 2-for-4 night, giving the Reds eight hits total against San Diego's pitching staff. The four runs should have been enough with the way Brady Singer was dealing on the mound for Cincinnati.
Singer Solid But Bullpen Falters
Brady Singer gave the Reds exactly what they needed through six innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits while striking out five and walking only one. Singer kept the dangerous Padres lineup in check for most of his outing, working efficiently through 6.0 innings of work.
The problems started in the seventh when Zach Maxwell took over, though he managed to escape with just one hit allowed. The real damage came in the eighth and ninth innings when the Reds' relief corps couldn't close out what should have been a winnable game.
Ninth-Inning Meltdown Costs Cincinnati
Caleb Ferguson entered the eighth inning and immediately ran into trouble, surrendering two earned runs on two hits in just one-third of an inning. Tony Santillan cleaned up Ferguson's mess temporarily, getting through two-thirds of an inning with just one hit allowed.
But Chase Petty couldn't finish the job in the ninth. The young right-hander gave up the decisive run on one hit, taking the loss despite working just two-thirds of an inning. It was a crushing blow for a Reds team that had built a lead behind strong offensive production.
Padres Capitalize on Late Opportunities
Fernando Tatis Jr. made the Reds pay with his two-run homer, finishing 2-for-5 and providing the offensive spark San Diego needed. Jackson Merrill and Will Wagner each collected two hits as the Padres manufactured enough offense to take advantage of Cincinnati's bullpen struggles.
Wandy Peralta picked up the win for San Diego despite allowing one hit and one walk in his one inning of work, benefiting from his team's ninth-inning rally.
What's Next
This loss stings for a Reds team that got quality production from both their starting pitcher and their offense but couldn't get the crucial outs late in the game. The bullpen's inability to preserve leads continues to be a concerning trend that could derail otherwise solid performances.
The Reds will look to bounce back tomorrow night in San Diego, hoping their relief corps can find the consistency needed to win close games on the road. With offensive performances like tonight's becoming more frequent, Cincinnati just needs their bullpen to hold up its end of the bargain.
