The Cincinnati Reds erased a one-run deficit and walked out of Seattle with a 5-3 victory over the Mariners on Wednesday, July 22, completing a comeback win behind a three-RBI blast from rookie Sal Stewart, a quality start from Brady Singer, and a shutdown closer inning from Emilio Pagán. The win required the Reds to dig out of a hole, but once they got going offensively, Seattle's bullpen couldn't hold them.

Sal Stewart Delivers the Knockout Blow

Stewart was the story of the night. The rookie went 1-for-4 but made that one hit count in a massive way, launching a home run that drove in three runs and swung the momentum decisively in the Reds' favor. Three RBI on a single swing against a capable Mariners staff is the kind of production that separates a good night from a great one, and Stewart delivered exactly that.

JJ Bleday added to the damage with a solo home run, his own 1-for-4 night turning into a run on the board. Bleday has emerged as one of the Reds' most consistent contributors since his April 26 recall, and Wednesday was another example of the production he has brought to the lineup. Dane Myers chipped in with two hits and an RBI as well — a welcome contribution from a player who has been working his way back from a stint on the injured list. Rounding out a balanced attack, Edwin Arroyo went 2-for-3 to keep the lineup turning over.

Brady Singer Earns the Win with 6.2 Solid Innings

Singer was sharp from the start. He worked 6.2 innings, struck out six, allowed three earned runs on six hits and one walk, and gave the Reds exactly what they needed: length and competitiveness. His 6-K performance kept Seattle's lineup uncomfortable, and the fact that he got deep into the seventh gave Cincinnati's bullpen a manageable workload.

The credit for closing it out goes to Emilio Pagán, who worked a clean ninth inning — no hits, no walks, no runs — to nail down the save. Brock Burke bridged the gap between Singer and Pagán with 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. The Reds' bullpen, excluding an ugly seventh from Eduard Bazardo on Seattle's side of the ledger, handled business when it mattered.

The Turning Point: Seventh-Inning Collapse by Seattle's Bullpen

The game's fulcrum was the seventh inning, when Seattle turned to Eduard Bazardo — and it went sideways fast. Bazardo allowed two hits, issued a walk, and surrendered three earned runs in just one inning of work. That frame is what flipped a competitive game into a Reds cushion, and Cincinnati never looked back. Emerson Hancock had kept Seattle in front with six solid innings of his own (two earned runs, three strikeouts), but Bazardo's inability to hold the lead handed the Reds the opening they needed.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Sal Stewart: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI
  • JJ Bleday: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Dane Myers: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
  • Edwin Arroyo: 2-for-3
  • Brady Singer (W): 6.2 IP, 6 K, 3 ER, 6 H, 1 BB
  • Emilio Pagán (SV): 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER

What's Next for the Reds

The Reds continue their road trip with the series against Seattle still ongoing. Wednesday's comeback win — overcoming a one-run deficit on the road — is exactly the kind of result that builds confidence heading deeper into the 2026 season. The starting pitching from Singer was encouraging, the lineup showed contributions across multiple spots, and the bullpen closed it out cleanly. Cincinnati has reasons to feel good about how this one unfolded.

Beyond Wednesday's box score, the biggest news hovering over Cincinnati's rotation is Hunter Greene's return from his elbow injury, which reunites him with Burns atop the Reds' starting staff. That development gives this team a genuine frontline to build around as the 2026 season pushes toward its second half — and it makes Singer's role as a reliable number-three arm all the more valuable. The Reds are quietly assembling the kind of pitching depth that can carry a team in October.