The Cincinnati Reds erased a two-run deficit and walked off Friday night at Great American Ball Park with an 8-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, capping a nine-inning division battle that went down to the wire. Sal Stewart led the way with a home run, two hits, and four RBI in five at-bats. Emilio Pagán threw a scoreless ninth to earn the win, while Pittsburgh's Wilber Dotel took the loss after allowing two earned runs in just one-third of an inning. The Reds pick up a valuable divisional win in the second half of the 2026 season.

Sal Stewart Powers Cincinnati's Comeback Against Pittsburgh

Stewart was the story at the plate. The young infielder went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and four RBI, doing the heavy lifting in a lineup that needed every run it could manufacture against a Pirates staff that kept making things uncomfortable. JJ Bleday added his own home run — going 1-for-3 with an RBI — continuing to produce as a meaningful piece of the Reds' offensive puzzle. Nathaniel Lowe contributed two hits and an RBI in five at-bats, while Noelvi Marte was relentless, going 3-for-4 to keep the offense churning throughout the night.

Hunter Greene Battles Through Six Innings Before Bullpen Takes Over

Hunter Greene gave the Reds six innings, striking out four while allowing four earned runs on seven hits and two walks. It wasn't Greene's cleanest outing, but he kept Cincinnati in the game long enough for the offense to do its work. The bullpen behind him was a mixed bag. Sam Moll was sharp, striking out two in two-thirds of an inning without allowing a hit. Julian Garcia recorded an out without incident. Caleb Ferguson ran into trouble, giving up two earned runs on two hits in a third of an inning. Pierce Johnson surrendered three hits and an earned run in two-thirds of a frame. Then Pagán stepped in and slammed the door, retiring Pittsburgh in order across a clean ninth inning to secure the win.

Paul Skenes Struggles Early as Reds Knock Around Pittsburgh's Starter

Pittsburgh sent Paul Skenes to the mound, and the Reds made him work. Skenes lasted just four innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits while walking four batters and striking out seven. The walks proved costly, giving Cincinnati opportunities it converted into runs to build an early cushion. Antwone Kelly followed with three scoreless innings to keep Pittsburgh within striking distance, and the Pirates battled back — Jake Mangum hit a home run and drove in two, Nick Gonzales added two more RBI, and Brandon Lowe went 3-for-5 — but Cincinnati's offense had just enough on the board when Pagán closed the door.

Turning Point: Ninth-Inning Shutdown by Emilio Pagán

With the Reds clinging to an 8-7 lead heading into the ninth, Pagán was tasked with closing out a Pittsburgh lineup that had already put seven runs on the board. He was spotless — one inning, one strikeout, no hits, no runs. That shutdown inning was the difference between a gut-wrenching loss and a hard-fought divisional win. Pittsburgh had already put seven runs on the board across nine innings, and Pagán made sure they would not add to that total. The combination of Stewart's four-RBI performance at the plate and Pagán's clean inning on the mound defined the outcome.

Key Performances

  • Sal Stewart: 2-for-5, 1 HR, 4 RBI
  • JJ Bleday: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Noelvi Marte: 3-for-4
  • Nathaniel Lowe: 2-for-5, 1 RBI
  • Emilio Pagán: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 K (W)
  • Hunter Greene: 6.0 IP, 4 ER, 4 K
  • Paul Skenes (PIT): 4.0 IP, 5 ER, 7 K
  • Wilber Dotel (PIT): 0.1 IP, 2 ER, 3 H (L)

What's Next for the Reds

Cincinnati will look to build on this divisional win when the series against Pittsburgh continues. A one-run comeback victory over a division opponent is exactly the kind of game that matters in August, and the Reds now have the momentum heading into the next contest. The pitching staff will need to be steadier — particularly out of the bullpen — but Friday night showed this lineup has the depth to fight back when it falls behind.