Hal McCoy
It was directly from The Baseball Book of Fundamentals, Chapter One, for the Cincinnati Reds.
With the score tied in the ninth inning, the Reds performed old-school tactics to manufacture the run they needed to beat the Minnesota Twins, 5-4 Saturday afternoon in Target Field.
It began when pinch-hitter Spencer Steer hit a grounder into the shortstop hole with the scored tied, 4-4.
Twins shortstop Brooks Lee is named after former Baltimore Orioles super defender Brooks Robinson. He is no Brooks Robinson.
The ball kicked off his glove and was generously ruled an infield hit.
Now came the old-school fundamentals. TJ Friedl is locked up in a 2 for 29 slump, but he is one of MLB’s best bunters and he dropped down a sacrifice bunt, moving Steer to second.
Dane Myers, a late-game replacement, blooped a soft single to center, scoring Steer.
And there you have it … the Reds are now 6-0 in one-run games and 10-0 in games decided by one run or less.
“When you get a bunt down, good things usually do happen,” Reds manager Tito Francona told reporters after the game.
Cincinnati Reds’ Spencer Steer runs home to scoring during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Minnesota Twins Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Ellen Schmidt – FR171854 AP
Minnesota entered the series with baseball’s best average with runners in scoring position. And they littered the basepaths with 15 runners for seven innings, putting runners on base all seven innings.
But only three scored and for those seven innings they were 3 for 15 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11.
Nevertheless, the Reds trailed, 2-0 after one, 2-1 after two, 3-1 after three, 3-2 after four, 4-2 after five and 4-3 after seven.
Catcher Tyler Stephenson drove in the team’s first two runs early in the game with a second-inning sacrifice fly and a fourth-inning single.
The Reds finally caught up in the eighth that began with Eugenio Suarez’s single to left. Nate Lowe singled to right, sending Suarez to third.
Matt McLain didn’t start the game and pinch-ran for Lowe. Rece Hinds, who broke his 0 for 10 since his call-up with a seventh-inning single, lofted a fly ball to center.
Suarez tagged and bolted for home. McLain purposely permitted himself to get caught in a rundown off first base to aid Suarez’s jaunt home to tie it, 4-4.
“McLain did some heads-up baserunning,” said Francona. “I don’t think a throw home gets Suarez, but he is not the fleetest of foot. People see McLain making an out, but that’s a heads-up play right there.
“That was a good one even though some things went against us,” said Francona. “We kept fighting and kept fighting, I liked the life and the enthusiasm and the competitiveness. They kept playing. Something to be said for that.”
Cincinnati Reds pitcher Tony Santillan throws to the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Ellen Schmidt – FR171854 AP
Was another win like this a character-builder and has this Reds team figured out ways to win games?
“So far, but I don’t want to get too far carried away,” said Francona. “But I love our competitiveness, the will to keep playing. Guys pick each other up.”
After tying the game, it was up to the bullpen, a bullpen with Graham Ashcraft and Emilio Pagan unavailable.
Francona gambled by sending Kyle Nicolas out in the eighth in a tie game to face the top of the Twins batting order.
Nicolas was shaky In his first two appearances since his call-up from Triple-A Louisville.
Amazingly, he struck out the side — Byron Buxton, Austin Martin and Kody Clemens.
“That was huge for him and has to be great for his confidence,” said Francona.
Tony Santillan was asked to close it and he slammed the door on the Twins’ fingers, 1-2-3 and struck out the last two for his first save of the season.
When Santillan toed the rubber, it was the 80th bullpen appearance by the Reds, the most in MLB.
But they have been slam-the-door all season. When the bullpen has come into a game with a lead, the Reds are 13-1.
“Everyone feeds off one another,” said Santillan of the bullpen. “When one guy has a good inning, the next guy comes in and wants to do the same thing, if not better.
“It’s a great bullpen and it’s fun,” he added. “It’s a fun bullpen, very relaxed but very serious when it comes time to do your job.”
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz (44) and center fielder TJ Friedl (29) celebrate defeating the Minnesota Twins in a baseball game, Saturday, April 18, 2026, in Minneapolis.
Ellen Schmidt – FR171854 AP
Santillan usually pitches the eighth and this one was his first save opportunity of the season.
“It was great, but regardless when I get the ball, it’s always fun,” he said. “Usually whenever I get the ball, we’re in good spots. I enjoy delivering for the team.”
Said Francona of the bullpen, “They kind of complement each other and pick each other up. Sometimes they bend, but they don’t break.”
Andrew Abbott started for the Reds and it was battle after battle for the struggling left hander. He gave up two runs in the first but fought his way through 4 2/3 innings and gave up four runs (three earned) and walked three.
NEXT GAME
Who: Cincinnati at Minnesota
When: 2:10 p.m., Sunday, April 19
Streaming: Reds.TV
Radio: 700-AM, 1410-AM