CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds avoided a three-game sweep Sunday afternoon, defeating the Atlanta Braves 6-4 at Great American Ball Park.

Atlanta jumped in front immediately when Ronald Acuña Jr. led off the game with a home run on the first pitch. It was Acuña's fourth straight game with a homer.

The Reds answered in the bottom of the first when J.J. Bleday doubled home Elly De La Cruz to tie the game. Bleday added another RBI double in the third inning to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead.

The Reds continued to build their advantage with RBI doubles from Will Benson and P.J. Higgins, along with a sacrifice fly and solo home run from Eugenio Suárez.

Bleday finished with two hits and two RBIs, while Suárez drove in three runs. Spencer Steer and De La Cruz each scored twice as Cincinnati collected 10 hits.

Atlanta got home runs from Acuña and Jorge Mateo, but the Braves stranded eight runners and finished just 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

The Reds improved to 30-28 with the win, while the Braves fell to 40-20.

One concern for Cincinnati came in the first inning when De La Cruz appeared to suffer a leg injury while running out a hit. He was removed from the game and replaced by Matt McLain. According to manager Terry Francona, De La Cruz managed to pull up and stop running before the injury became worse but will be scanned by medical staff Monday morning at 9 am. 

The Reds return to action Monday night when they open a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. The Inside Pitch pregame show begins at 6:40 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds dropped their third straight game Saturday night, falling to the Atlanta Braves 5-2 at Great American Ball Park.

Atlanta got on the board first in the second inning when Mike Yastrzemski delivered an RBI single to score Ozzie Albies. The Reds answered in the bottom half of the inning as JJ Bleday launched a two-run homer, his ninth of the season, to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead.

The advantage was short-lived. Ronald Acuña Jr. tied the game with a solo home run in the third inning, then Jorge Mateo put Atlanta ahead for good with a solo shot in the fifth. Matt Olson added another solo homer in the seventh, and Acuña capped the scoring with his second home run of the night in the ninth.

The Braves managed seven hits, with four of them leaving the yard. Acuña finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs. Mateo and Olson also homered for Atlanta.

For Cincinnati, Bleday accounted for both runs with his two-run blast and finished with two hits. Elly De La Cruz recorded a triple, while Blake Dunn added a double.

Braves starter Martín Pérez earned the win after allowing two runs on four hits over five innings. Brady Singer took the loss for the Reds after surrendering three runs in five innings.

The Reds have now lost three straight and will try to avoid a series sweep Sunday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1:40 p.m., with the Inside Pitch pregame show beginning at 1:10 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds dropped their second straight game Friday night, falling 8-3 to the Atlanta Braves at Great American Ball Park.

Atlanta jumped in front immediately when Ronald Acuña Jr. opened the game with a leadoff home run. The Braves added three more runs in the second inning on RBI plays from Jorge Mateo, Chadwick Tromp and Michael Harris II to build a 4-0 lead.

The Reds answered in the fourth inning with back-to-back solo home runs from JJ Bleday and Nathaniel Lowe, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Cincinnati pulled within a run in the fifth when Sal Stewart delivered an RBI single to score TJ Friedl.

However, Atlanta broke the game open in the sixth. Mike Yastrzemski drove in a run with a double before Mateo and Harris added RBI singles as the Braves scored four times in the inning to extend the lead to 8-3.

Stewart finished 3-for-4 with an RBI to lead the Reds offensively. Bleday and Lowe each homered, while Tyler Stephenson added two hits. Cincinnati collected 10 hits but struck out 11 times and left several scoring opportunities unanswered.

Chris Paddack took the loss and remains winless on the season after allowing four runs on seven hits in five innings.

The Reds have now lost two consecutive games after dropping the series finale to the Mets on Wednesday and the opener of this series against Atlanta on Friday.

Cincinnati and Atlanta will continue their series Saturday night at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. The Inside Pitch pregame show begins at 6:45 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

QUEENS, N.Y. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds came up short in their bid for a sweep Wednesday night, falling to the New York Mets, 4-2.

Juan Soto gave New York an early lead with a solo home run in the first inning, and Eric Wagaman followed with his first homer of the season in the second to make it 2-0.

The Reds got on the board in the third when Nathaniel Lowe singled home Elly De La Cruz. Cincinnati cut the deficit to one again in the sixth, when Sal Stewart drove in Tyler Stephenson with an infield single.

But the Mets added insurance in the seventh, as Carson Benge singled home Jared Young to make it 4-2. Benge finished with two hits and two RBIs for New York.

Andrew Abbott took the loss for Cincinnati, allowing three runs, two earned, on five hits over six innings. Blake Dunn led the Reds at the plate with three hits.

The loss drops Cincinnati back to fourth place in the NL Central. The Reds still took the series, two games to one.

Cincinnati is off Thursday before returning home to Great American Ball Park for a three-game weekend series against the Atlanta Braves. The opener is Friday night at 6:40 on WMDJ FM 100.1.

QUEENS, N.Y. (WMDJ) — For the second straight night, the Cincinnati Reds beat the New York Mets by a 7-2 score to take the series.

Cincinnati struck early Tuesday, taking a 2-0 lead in the first inning on Eugenio Suárez’s two-run double that scored Sal Stewart and Spencer Steer.

The Reds broke things open in the fourth. Tyler Stephenson drove in Dane Myers with an RBI single before Elly De La Cruz added a two-run double to push the lead to 5-0.

Stephenson added another RBI with a double in the sixth, and Stewart drove in the Reds’ final run with an RBI single in the eighth.

Juan Soto accounted for New York’s scoring with a two-run home run in the sixth.

The Reds finished with 15 hits in the win. JJ Bleday led the way with three hits, while De La Cruz, Stewart, Suárez, Myers and Stephenson each had two.

Chase Burns picked up his seventh win of the season, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out eight over 5 1/3 innings as Cincinnati improved to 29-25.

With the win, the Reds moved back into third place in the National League Central behind Milwaukee and St. Louis.

Cincinnati will try for the series sweep Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7:10, with Inside Pitch pregame show beginning at 6:40 on WMDJ FM 100.1.

QUEENS, Ny. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds used a four-run fourth inning and a strong start from Nick Lodolo to open their series with a 7-2 win over the New York Mets on Memorial Day at Citi Field.

Cincinnati got on the board in the second inning when Sal Stewart scored on a force out by Spencer Steer. A wild pitch later in the inning allowed Eugenio Suárez to come home and make it 2-0.

The Reds added to the lead in the third when JJ Bleday launched a solo home run to right-center, his seventh of the season.

The big blow came in the fourth. Steer delivered a two-run single to center, bringing home Suárez and Nathaniel Lowe. Tyler Stephenson followed with a two-run homer to left, stretching the Reds’ advantage to 7-0.

Lodolo turned in one of his better outings of the season, earning his first win by allowing one run on six hits over six innings while striking out seven and walking none.

The Mets managed solo runs in the sixth and seventh innings, including a home run by Marcus Semien, but Cincinnati’s bullpen held the rest of the way. Brent Burke, Ian Gibaut Antone, Sam Moll and Graham Ashcraft combined to close it out, with the bullpen striking out five over the final three innings.

Steer drove in three runs for Cincinnati, while Stephenson added two RBIs. Suárez scored twice and collected two hits.

The Reds improve to 28-25 with the win but still fourth in the NL Central.

Cincinnati and New York continue the three-game series Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. with the Inside Pitch pregame show at 6:40 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds picked up a much-needed win Saturday, outlasting the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 in 11 innings at Great American Ball Park to even the three-game series.

The Reds broke through with a five-run fifth inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Elly De La Cruz and a two-run shot from Nathaniel Lowe, building a 5-1 lead.

St. Louis battled back in the sixth with Jordan Walker’s three-run homer to cut the deficit to one. Cincinnati added another run in the bottom half of the inning on Dane Myers’ RBI double to make it 6-4.

The Cardinals weren’t done, though. José Fermín led off the ninth with a solo homer before Walker delivered again with a game-tying RBI single later in the inning.

After both teams came up empty in the 10th, the Reds walked it off in the 11th. With runners on, Blake Dunn reached on a fielder’s choice that allowed Spencer Steer slide into home plate to score the winning run after a reviewed tag play was upheld.

De La Cruz finished with three RBIs, while Lowe added two. Walker drove in four runs for St. Louis in the loss.

The Reds and Cardinals will meet in the series finale Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m. Pregame coverage begins at 1:10 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Reds will be looking for a quick turnaround tonight after a rough start to Saturday’s doubleheader against the Cardinals at Great American Ball Park.

St. Louis defeated Cincinnati 8-1 in game one, pulling away with a steady offensive attack that included 12 hits.

The Reds struck first and only in the second inning when Nathaniel Lowe launched a solo home run to right field, giving Cincinnati a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals answered in the third with back-to-back RBI plays from Alec Burleson and Jordan Walker to take the lead for good.

St. Louis added another run in the fourth before Walker delivered a two-run homer in the seventh to extend the lead to 5-1.

The Cardinals tacked on insurance runs in the eighth and ninth, including a two-run home run from Bryan Torres.

Cincinnati managed just two hits in the loss. Lowe accounted for one of them along with the team’s only run.

The Reds will try to split the doubleheader in game two tonight at Great American Ball Park. First pitch is set for 7:15 p.m., with the Inside Pitch pregame show beginning at 6:45 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds picked up their second win in a row Wednesday, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 9-4 to win the series. 

Nathaniel Lowe helped lead the Reds offense, driving in three runs with a pair of doubles. Sal Stewart also had a big night, going 4-for-5 with three runs scored, two RBIs and a two-run homer in the ninth.

Cincinnati answered an early Phillies run with three runs in the second inning. Lowe doubled in Stewart, Will Benson brought home Spencer Steer on a groundout, and P.J. Higgins added an RBI single.

The Reds stretched the lead to 5-1 before Philadelphia made it a one-run game in the sixth on home runs by Alec Bohm and Edmundo Sosa. Cincinnati responded in the seventh, when Lowe doubled home JJ Bleday and Stewart to make it 7-4.

Andrew Abbott earned the win, allowing two runs, one earned, over 5.1 innings.

With the win, the Reds move back into fourth place in the NL Central. Cincinnati is off Thursday before returning home to Great American Ball Park for a weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals beginning Friday night.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WMDJ)  — The Cincinnati Reds got back in the win column Tuesday night, beating the Philadelphia Phillies 4-1 at Citizens Bank Park.

Philadelphia struck first on a solo home run by Trea Turner in the third inning, but Cincinnati answered in the fourth. Dane Myers and JJ Bleday each drove in a run on sacrifice flies to give the Reds a 2-1 lead.

The Reds added two more runs in the seventh. Blake Dunn scored on a Matt McLain fielder’s choice after a successful Reds challenge, and Elly De La Cruz followed with a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-1.

Cincinnati starter Chase Burns earned the win, allowing one run on three hits over six innings while striking out nine. Tony Santillan picked up the save.

The Reds had seven hits in the win, while the Phillies were held to three.

Cincinnati had lost its previous three games and they will look to win the series Wednesday afternoon against Philadelphia.

First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m., with the Inside Pitch pregame show starting at 12:35 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds fell back to .500 on the season Monday night, losing to the Philadelphia Phillies, 5-4.

The Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on sacrifice flies from Edmundo Sosa and Adolis García. Cincinnati answered in the second, with Tyler Stephenson driving in Sal Stewart on an RBI single before TJ Friedl brought home Nathaniel Lowe with a sacrifice fly.

Philadelphia moved back in front in the sixth on a solo home run by Alec Bohm, but Stewart tied the game in the seventh with his 11th homer of the season. Spencer Steer then gave the Reds a 4-3 lead in the eighth with an RBI double.

The lead did not hold. Bryson Stott hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth off Graham Ashcraft to put Philadelphia ahead for good.

Ashcraft took the loss, while Orion Kerkering earned the win and Jhoan Duran picked up the save.

The Reds are now 24-24. Game two of the three-game series is Tuesday in Philadelphia. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m., with pregame coverage starting at 6:10 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CLEVELAND, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Reds difficult May continued Sunday as Cleveland powered past Cincinnati 10-3 in the series finale.

The Guardians struck early with a two-run homer from Chase DeLauter in the first inning. Cincinnati answered in the third when Elly De La Cruz launched his 11th home run of the season to make it a one-run game, but Cleveland quickly pulled away.

Kyle Manzardo did much of the damage for the Guardians, hitting a pair of home runs and driving in three runs. Brayan Rocchio, Angel Martínez and José Ramírez also homered as Cleveland finished with six home runs in the win.

The Reds managed 11 hits, with De La Cruz and Spencer Steer collecting two each. Nathaniel Lowe drove in a run with an RBI single, and Dane Myers added an RBI hit in the ninth.

Brady Singer took the loss after allowing five runs over four innings. Cincinnati pitchers surrendered 10 runs on 12 hits.

The Reds have now gone 4-12 since the start of May and have fallen from first place to last in the National League Central during that stretch.

Cincinnati heads to Philadelphia next for a three-game series against the Phillies. First pitch Monday is set for 6:40 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6:10 on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CLEVELAND, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds could not hold onto a two-run lead Saturday, falling to the Cleveland Guardians, 7-4.

Cleveland struck first in the second inning, when Brayan Rocchio singled to left to drive in Steven Kwan and Angel Martínez for a 2-0 lead.

The Reds got on the board in the third on Dane Myers’ solo home run to right field.

Cincinnati moved in front in the fifth. Sal Stewart drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game, then Spencer Steer doubled to center to score Ke’Bryan Hayes and Elly De La Cruz, giving the Reds a 4-2 lead.

Cleveland answered in the sixth, scoring on a wild pitch and a sacrifice fly by Rhys Hoskins to even the game at 4.

The Guardians took the lead for good in the seventh, when Martínez hit a two-run homer to right-center. Cleveland added another run in the eighth on a Reds error.

Steer finished with two RBIs for Cincinnati, while Myers added a home run. Blake Dunn had two hits for the Reds.

Cincinnati and Cleveland conclude the series Sunday. First pitch is set for 1:40 p.m., with the Inside Pitch pregame show beginning at 1:10 p.m. on WMDJ. The Reds will look to take the series before opening a three-game road set against the Phillies in Philadelphia.

Cincinnati built a 3-0 lead through five innings, getting an RBI walk from Matt McLain and a sacrifice fly from Tyler Stephenson in the second before Elly De La Cruz added an RBI double in the fifth.

The Reds appeared to take control in the eighth when Spencer Steer drove in a run with a single, followed by McLain’s two-run homer to make it 6-1.

Cleveland answered with a five-run bottom of the eighth, capitalizing on walks and timely hitting to pull within one. The Guardians loaded the bases during the rally before Cincinnati escaped the inning with the lead intact.

The Reds added an insurance run in the ninth when JJ Bleday drove in Dane Myers on a forceout.

Tejay Antone gave up a run in the ninth before Matt McLain at second base made a diving stop in the outfield and threw out Travis Bazzana for the final out. It was Antone's first save since May 30, 2021 as the right-hander has undergone three Tommy John surgeries.

McLain finished with three RBIs, including the key two-run homer, while Bleday collected three hits and scored twice. Andrew Abbott earned the win after allowing one run over five innings.

The Reds have now won two straight games. Cincinnati will continue the series Saturday night with Chris Paddack scheduled to start against Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams. Paddack enters the matchup still searching for his first win of the season at 0-5 with a 7.63 ERA. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 5:40 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WMDJ) — A former Prestonsburg High School standout is returning to Kentucky’s college basketball scene.

Bellarmine University announced Friday that Kaitlyn Keathley has joined the school’s women’s basketball program as director of basketball operations.

Keathley comes to Bellarmine after spending the 2025-26 season as an assistant coach at Division II Mississippi College. Before that, she served as an assistant coach at Cameron University in Oklahoma during the 2024-25 season.

A graduate of Morehead State University, Keathley earned both a bachelor’s degree in university studies and a master’s degree in sports management. She also previously worked at Morehead State as a graduate assistant in academic advising.

Before moving into coaching, Keathley played collegiate basketball at Presbyterian College in South Carolina from 2019 to 2021 before transferring to Morehead State for the 2021-22 season, where she earned recognition on the Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

Keathley built an accomplished athletic career at Prestonsburg High School, where she was a four-year starter and three-time team captain. During her high school basketball career, she scored more than 1,400 points while adding more than 500 rebounds, 400 assists and 350 steals.

As a senior, she averaged 17.8 points, 6.5 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game while earning third-team All-State honors, along with multiple all-region and all-district recognitions.

In addition to basketball, Keathley also found success in track and field and cross country, earning five regional championships and Academic All-State honors.

Bellarmine competes NCAA Division One in the ASUN Conference

*Photo courtesy of Bellermine Athletics

CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds made sure they wouldn’t leave town empty-handed Wednesday, crushing the Washington Nationals 15-1 to avoid a series sweep at Great American Ball Park.

Cincinnati’s bats came alive early and never cooled off. Matt McLain got the scoring started in the second with a two-run homer, his fourth of the season, to put the Reds ahead 2-0.

The Reds broke things open in the fourth. Jose Trevino delivered a two-run single, followed by a two-run double from Ke’Bryan Hayes to make it 6-0.

JJ Bleday powered the offensive explosion, finishing 3-for-5 with six RBI and two home runs. His three-run blast in the fifth stretched the lead to 9-0, and his second homer, a two-run shot in the seventh, made it 11-0.

Dane Myers added a three-run homer in the eighth as Cincinnati piled on. The Reds finished with 14 hits, with McLain scoring three runs and driving in two.

On the mound, Chase Burns was dominant, tossing six scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and striking out seven to improve his record to 5-1 on the season.

Washington’s lone run came on a wild pitch in the eighth.

The Reds now head to Cleveland for a road series against the Guardians. First pitch Thursday is set for 7:10 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning at 6:40 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds were overpowered by Washington’s long ball Tuesday night, falling 10-4 to the Nationals at Great American Ball Park.

CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Reds finally got back in the win column Friday night, snapping an eight-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory over the Houston Astros at Great American Ball Park.

Houston struck first in the top of the fifth inning when Braden Shewmake connected for a solo homer to give the Astros a 1-0 lead.

Cincinnati answered in the bottom half of the inning. With the bases loaded, Matt McLain ripped a two-run single to left field, scoring Spencer Steer and Will Benson to put the Reds on top 2-1. Jose Trevino moved to third on the play while McLain advanced to second after a throwing error by Astros left fielder Zach Cole.

Later in the inning, Elly De La Cruz added an RBI single to left, bringing home Trevino for a 3-1 Reds lead. Houston cut down McLain at the plate to end the inning, but Cincinnati had all the offense it needed.

Chase Burns earned the win after allowing just one run on four hits over six innings while striking out two. The Reds bullpen of Brock Burke, Graham Ashcraft and Daniel Johnson combined for three scoreless innings to close it out.

The Reds and Astros have now split the first two games of the series. Cincinnati will go for the series win Sunday afternoon at 1:40 p.m. The Inside Pitch pregame show begins at 1:10 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CINCINNATI, Oh. (WMDJ) — The Reds rough start to May continued Friday, as they returned home to Great American Ball Park and were shut out by the Houston Astros, 10-0.

CHICAGO Il. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds struggles continue Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field, as the Chicago Cubs used a seven-run fourth inning to beat Cincinnati, 8-3.

Michael Conforto opened the scoring with a solo home run in the second inning. Chicago then broke the game open in the fourth, scoring seven runs on a bases-loaded walk, a fielder’s choice, RBI hits from Pete Crow-Armstrong, Miguel Amaya and Nico Hoerner, and a sacrifice fly by Moisés Ballesteros.

Reds starter Rhett Lowder took the loss, allowing three runs on one hit with four walks over three innings. Connor Phillips allowed five runs in relief.

Cincinnati got on the board in the sixth on Sal Stewart’s 10th home run of the season. Blake Dunn added his first homer of the year in the eighth, and JJ Bleday drove in Stewart with a ninth-inning double.

The Reds have now lost seven straight and fall to 20-18, last in the National League Central.

Cincinnati returns home Friday to Great American Ball Park to open a series with the Houston Astros. First pitch is set for 6:10 p.m., with Inside Pitch beginning at 5:40 on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CHICAGO, Il. (WMDJ) — The Reds erased a two-run deficit with a huge ninth inning rally, but another late bullpen collapse sent Cincinnati to a 7-6 loss in 10 innings to the Cubs Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.

Cincinnati struck first in the opening inning on an RBI groundout from Elly De La Cruz, but Chicago answered quickly with a two-run homer from Ian Happ to take a 2-1 lead.

The Cubs added two more runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Seiya Suzuki and a run-scoring double play to make it 4-1. Matt McLain cut the deficit to 4-2 with a solo homer in the fifth, but the Reds left runners stranded in several key spots through the middle innings.

Trailing by two entering the ninth, Cincinnati mounted its biggest rally of the night. Spencer Steer opened the inning with a solo home run before RBI hits from JJ Bleday and a two-run sacrifice fly from De La Cruz gave the Reds a 6-4 lead.

That lead disappeared quickly in the bottom of the inning when Pete Crow-Armstrong tied the game with a two-run homer.

The Reds failed to score in the 10th after grounding into a costly double play, and the Cubs won it in the bottom half without recording a hit. After two intentional walks loaded the bases, Michael Busch drew a walk to force in the winning run.

The loss was Cincinnati’s sixth straight and second consecutive extra-inning loss to Chicago. During the skid, the Reds have fallen from first place to fourth in the NL Central, while the Cubs extended their winning streak to eight games.

The Reds will try to avoid a sweep Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field. The Inside Pitch pregame show begins at 1:50 p.m. and first pitch is scheduled to take place at 2:20 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CHICAGO, Il. (WMDJ) — The Reds dropped their fifth straight game Wednesday night, falling to the Cubs 3-2 in 10 innings at Wrigley Field.

Cincinnati struck first in the opening inning when JJ Bleday launched a solo home run to right-center field for a 1-0 lead. Nathaniel Lowe added another solo shot in the sixth inning to push the Reds advantage to 2-0.

Andrew Abbott turned in a strong start for Cincinnati, tossing 5 and 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing four hits and striking out four.

Chicago began its comeback in the seventh inning on an RBI single from Alex Bregman that cut the deficit to 2-1. Michael Busch tied the game in the eighth with a solo homer to right-center field.

The Reds had another setback in the ninth inning when closer Emilio Pagán exited with a left hamstring injury after throwing just one pitch.

In the 10th inning, Busch delivered again with a walk-off RBI single to center field that scored Dansby Swanson and gave the Cubs the series-clinching win.

The Reds fall to 20-16 on the season. Game three of the series is Thursday night at 7:40 p.m. with the Inside Pitch pregame show starting at 7:10 on WMDJ FM 100.1.

CHICAGO Il. (WMDJ) — The Reds couldn’t hold on late Monday night, falling to the Cubs 5-4 in Chicago.

Cincinnati built an early lead behind solo home runs from JJ Bleday and a two-run shot from Ke’Bryan Hayes, finishing with four runs on 10 hits.

Spencer Steer put Cincinnati back in front in the eighth with an RBI double that scored Blake Dunn, giving the Reds a 4-3 lead.

Then the ninth inning got away from them, with Nico Hoerner tying it on a sacrifice fly before Michael Conforto won it with a walk-off solo home run.

Emilio Pagán took the loss in relief, allowing two runs in the ninth. Starter Petty went five and two-thirds innings, giving up three runs on four hits.

The game was delayed one hour and 40 minutes due to rain.

The Reds and Cubs continue their four-game series Tuesday night at Wrigley Field. Coverage begins with the Inside Pitch pregame show at 7:10 on WMDJ FM 100.1. First pitch is set for 7:40 PM EST.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds were shut out Sunday, falling 1-0 to the Pittsburgh Pirates in a tightly played game. If you really love pitching and low scoring, this was the game for you.

The Reds managed just four hits and struck out eight times, unable to capitalize on limited opportunities at the plate.

Pittsburgh scored the game’s only run in the eighth inning on an RBI single from Oneil Cruz.

Cincinnati starter Chase Burns turned in a strong performance, tossing seven shutout innings while allowing three hits and striking out seven. However, the bullpen allowed the deciding run in the eighth.

The loss drops the Reds to 20-14 on the season and marks their first series sweep of the year.

Cincinnati will look to bounce back Monday as they open a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. The Inside Pitch pregame show will start at 7:10 PM with first pitch being scheduled for 7:40 on WMDJ FM 100.1.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WMDJ) — The Cincinnati Reds jumped out early, but it quickly unraveled in historic fashion.

Cincinnati took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run double from Nathaniel Lowe, but Pittsburgh answered with five runs in the bottom half and never looked back in a 17-7 win at PNC Park.

The turning point came in the second inning, when starter Rhett Lowder and reliever Connor Phillips combined to issue seven straight walks, tying a Major League record. The Pirates scored five runs in the inning without recording a hit, stretching the lead to 10-3.

Pittsburgh kept the pressure on, adding five more runs in the fourth inning and finishing with 19 hits. Seven different players drove in runs, with Ryan O’Hearn, Marcell Ozuna and Spencer Horwitz each recording three RBIs. Konnor Griffin added four hits in the win.

The Reds showed some offense, including a home run from Will Benson and a two-run shot by JJ Bleday, but couldn’t keep pace.

Cincinnati used seven pitchers in the game, combining to allow 17 runs on 19 hits while walking 11 batters.

The loss drops the Reds to 20-13 as they try to avoid being swept for the first time this season. They’ll try to bounce back Sunday afternoon in Pittsburgh. The Inside Pitch pregame show starts at 1:05 PM and first pitch is scheduled for 1:35 PM on WMDJ FM 100.1. 

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (WMDJ) —  The Cincinnati Reds struggled to get anything going Friday night, falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates, 9-1, in the series opener at PNC Park.

Pittsburgh used the long ball early and often, hitting four home runs in the win. Bryan Reynolds opened the scoring with a solo shot in the first and later added an RBI triple in the third.

Henry Davis had a big night for the Pirates, going 2-for-3 with two home runs and three RBIs. Marcell Ozuna also homered, driving in two runs.

The Reds were held to just three hits. TJ Friedl went 2-for-4 and scored Cincinnati’s lone run in the sixth inning on an RBI groundout by Elly De La Cruz.

Reds starter Brady Singer took the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits over 3.1 innings. Cincinnati pitching gave up 12 hits, eight walks and four home runs.

The Reds will look to bounce back Saturday afternoon in game two of the three-game set. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. at PNC Park, with the Inside Pitch pregame show starting at 3:35 p.m. on WMDJ FM 100.