Matt McLain delivered the go-ahead blow as the Cincinnati Reds rallied from a one-run deficit to beat the Athletics 3-2 on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Great American Ball Park. McLain's home run — his lone hit of the night — capped a ninth-inning comeback and handed Cincinnati a tight, hard-fought victory in front of the home crowd. Rhett Lowder earned the win after six solid innings, and Emilio Pagán locked it down for the save. This one came the hard way, and that's what made it stick.

Rhett Lowder Keeps the Reds Competitive Through Six Innings

Lowder was the backbone of Cincinnati's effort. The young right-hander worked through six innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and two walks while striking out three. He did enough to keep the Reds within striking distance, and that's exactly what a winning performance looks like — not perfect, but effective when it counted.

Athletics starter Jacob Lopez was difficult to square up. Lopez punched out nine batters over five innings, surrendering just two earned runs on four hits. The Reds had to work for every base against him, and Lopez's strikeout total tells the story of how difficult those at-bats were for Cincinnati's lineup.

The Bullpen Slams the Door

After Lowder exited, the Cincinnati bullpen took over and was nothing short of dominant. Brock Burke was sharp, retiring hitters across a 1.1-inning stretch without allowing a hit, a walk, or an earned run — all while striking out three. That's the kind of relief performance that keeps a close game within reach.

Tejay Antone followed with two-thirds of a scoreless inning, and then Pagán came on in the ninth to close it out — one strikeout, no hits, no runs. Three up, three down. Save secured. The back end of Cincinnati's bullpen did exactly what it needed to do to protect a lead the offense still had to go earn.

Lawrence Butler Gives Athletics the Lead With a Solo Shot

Oakland's Lawrence Butler provided the Athletics' offense almost entirely on his own. Butler went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and one RBI, giving his club a lead that Cincinnati would ultimately need to overcome. The Athletics' pitching staff — particularly Scott Blewett, who threw two scoreless innings to close out — kept the door open for Oakland as long as possible.

Hayden Juenger took the loss after allowing one earned run on two hits in two-thirds of an inning. That inning proved to be the turning point of the entire game.

The Turning Point: Cincinnati's Ninth-Inning Comeback

Trailing by a run heading into the final frame, the Reds needed a spark. McLain provided it. His solo home run — his only hit of the night in three at-bats — was the go-ahead run, erasing Cincinnati's one-run deficit and delivering the winning margin. McLain was the player who made it happen. In a one-run game in the ninth, that swing is the whole ballgame.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Matt McLain (Reds): 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Rhett Lowder (Reds): 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K — Win
  • Brock Burke (Reds): 1.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 3 K
  • Emilio Pagán (Reds): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K — Save
  • Lawrence Butler (Athletics): 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Jacob Lopez (Athletics): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
  • Hayden Juenger (Athletics): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 1 K — Loss

What's Next for the Reds

Cincinnati picks up a home victory and keeps the series against Oakland moving. The Reds will look to build on this late-inning resilience as the series continues. Games decided in the ninth by a single swing are never comfortable, but the Reds showed they can find a way when it matters most — and that's worth something.