The Cincinnati Reds erased a one-run deficit and rolled to a 6-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at Great American Ball Park. Elly De La Cruz and Dane Myers delivered home runs, Sal Stewart and Juan Brito each went 3-for-4 at the plate, and a bullpen committee held the Dodgers' offense in check after a shaky start from Andrew Abbott. The win was a comeback effort — Cincinnati trailed before putting the game away for good.

Elly De La Cruz Home Run, Dane Myers Homer Power Cincinnati's Offense

De La Cruz was the most impactful bat in the lineup Wednesday night. The shortstop went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI, doing the kind of damage that changes a ballgame. Myers backed him up with a solo shot of his own, going 1-for-5 with one RBI. Between the two of them, they accounted for three of Cincinnati's six runs.

Stewart and Brito gave the Reds lineup genuine depth. Stewart went 3-for-4 with an RBI — a quietly productive night from a player who kept the lineup turning over. Brito was equally productive, going 3-for-3 with an RBI on the night. Four different Reds hitters drove in runs, and the offense spread the damage across multiple Dodgers pitchers.

How the Reds Bullpen Closed Out Los Angeles

Andrew Abbott started and gave the Reds 4.2 innings, allowing one earned run on three hits while walking five and striking out five. It was a labored outing — the five walks were a problem — but Abbott kept Cincinnati close enough for the offense to take over.

The bullpen carried the rest. Julian Garcia worked one inning, allowing one earned run. Then Tejay Antone — who earned the win — bridged a critical gap with 0.1 scoreless innings. Brock Burke followed with a clean inning, and Graham Ashcraft tossed a scoreless frame despite two walks. Emilio Pagán closed it out with a dominant ninth, striking out three on one hit allowed.

Los Angeles got contributions from Mookie Betts, who went 3-for-4, and Will Smith, who was 2-for-4 with an RBI, but the Dodgers couldn't generate enough offense against the back end of Cincinnati's staff. Seth Halvorsen took the loss after allowing two earned runs on two hits in one inning. Jack Dreyer struggled as well, giving up two earned runs on three hits and two walks in one inning.

Turning Point: Reds Flip the Lead and Don't Look Back

Cincinnati entered this game facing a one-run deficit at some point and turned it around for a four-run final margin. The home runs from De La Cruz and Myers were the spine of that turnaround. Once the Reds bullpen stabilized the pitching side, Los Angeles had no answer offensively — the Dodgers managed just two runs total against seven Cincinnati pitchers.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Elly De La Cruz: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Dane Myers: 1-for-5, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Sal Stewart: 3-for-4, 1 RBI
  • Juan Brito: 3-for-3, 1 RBI
  • Andrew Abbott: 4.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 5 BB, 5 K
  • Emilio Pagán: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 K
  • Tejay Antone: win (0.1 IP, scoreless)

What's Next for the Reds

Cincinnati took care of business at home, holding the Dodgers to just two runs across seven pitchers over nine innings. The Reds will carry this momentum — earned with their bats and their bullpen depth — into the next game. Wednesday night's performance — seven pitchers combining to allow just two runs, with the bullpen delivering 4.1 scoreless innings after Abbott's exit — gave the fanbase plenty to feel good about heading into the next series.