The Cincinnati Reds overcame a three-run deficit and beat the Atlanta Braves 7-6 on Thursday, September 24, 2026, in a nine-inning road thriller. Héctor Rodríguez, Elly De La Cruz, and Carlos Jorge each homered for Cincinnati, providing the power the Reds needed to claw back from an early hole. Connor Phillips earned the win in relief, Emilio Pagán locked it down for the save, and the Reds walked away from Truist Park with a one-run victory that required every bit of their lineup.

Rodríguez, De La Cruz, and Jorge Provide the Power

Three Cincinnati hitters went deep on Thursday, and all three were central to the comeback. Héctor Rodríguez led the way with a 2-for-4 night, one home run, and two RBI — the kind of line that anchors a rally. Elly De La Cruz added a solo shot, going 1-for-4 with one RBI. Carlos Jorge also connected for a home run, finishing 1-for-4 with one RBI. Together, those three accounted for four of Cincinnati's seven runs and gave the Reds the firepower to dig out of a three-run hole.

Brady Singer Struggles Early, Bullpen Holds the Line

Starting pitcher Brady Singer did not make it through the third inning, surrendering five earned runs on seven hits and two walks across just three innings of work. That rough outing put Cincinnati in an early deficit, but the bullpen behind him stabilized things. Zach McCambley allowed one earned run in 1.2 innings. Connor Phillips, who earned the win, tossed 1.1 scoreless innings while walking two. Tejay Antone struck out one in a clean inning of work, and Brock Burke and Emilio Pagán each handled an inning late. Pagán was sharp in the ninth — one hit allowed, one strikeout — to close it out and earn the save.

Atlanta's Bullpen Faltered at the Wrong Moment

The Braves got solid contributions at the plate. Michael Harris II went 3-for-5 with one RBI, and Austin Riley delivered a home run with two RBI on just two at-bats. Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mauricio Dubón each had two hits. But Atlanta's pitching couldn't hold the lead. Tyler Mahle gave up five earned runs on six hits in five innings, and AJ Smith-Shawver — who took the loss — allowed two earned runs in two innings, including the hits that helped Cincinnati complete the comeback. Dylan Dodd was excellent in relief, retiring hitters over two scoreless innings with three strikeouts and no hits allowed, but by then the damage was done.

Turning Point

The Reds trailed by three runs before their offense strung together the contributions needed to flip the game. The combination of home run power from Rodríguez, De La Cruz, and Jorge — and a Cincinnati bullpen that largely held Atlanta in check after Singer's rough start — gave the Reds enough margin to survive a tight finish. Smith-Shawver's two-run frame in relief proved to be the decisive swing, giving Cincinnati the opening they needed to take the lead for good.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Héctor Rodríguez: 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Elly De La Cruz: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Carlos Jorge: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Connor Phillips: 1.1 IP, 0 ER, W
  • Emilio Pagán: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 K, SV
  • Brady Singer: 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 H (loss not assigned to Singer)
  • AJ Smith-Shawver (L): 2.0 IP, 2 ER

What's Next

The Reds continue their road schedule with this series against Atlanta still in progress. Cincinnati will look to build on Thursday's comeback win as the 2026 regular season moves toward its conclusion.