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Hal McCoy<\/p>\n
Brandon Williamson grew up 154 miles from Target Field in Fairmont, Minn., and spent his youth attending games and rooting for the Minnesota Twins.<\/p>\n
And with close to 500 of his closest friends from close to his hometown, Williamson made the Twins wonder what kind of fan he was of their team.<\/p>\n
With some major help from Eugenio Suarez, offensively and defensively, Williamson and the practically peerless Reds bullpen put down the Twins, 2-1, on an igloo-like Friday night.<\/p>\n
And the Reds continue to pile up positive close game numbers as they remained tied for first place in the National League Central with the Pittsburgh Pirates, both at 12-8.<\/p>\n
The numbers?<\/p>\n
The Reds are 5-0 in one-run games, baseball\u2019s only undefeated team in one-run decisions.<\/p>\n
The Reds are 11-0 in games when they lead after seven innings.<\/p>\n
The Reds are 9-0 in games decided by two runs or less.<\/p>\n
Cincinnati\u2019s two runs came off the bat of Suarez, a two-run double in the fourth inning off Minnesota ace Joe Ryan.<\/p>\n
With one out, Elly De La Cruz doubled off the center field wall with two strikes. Sal Stewart reached first with two strikes on a throwing error by third baseman Ryan Kreidler and De La Cruz took third.<\/p>\n
Stewart stole second and with two strikes (it definitely was a pattern) Suarez smashed his two-run double.<\/p>\n
It was the Reds only hit with runners in scoring position (1 for 6), but the Twins were 0 for 4, this from a team that leads MLB in hits with runners in scoring position at .321.<\/p>\n
Williamson pitched six innings and gave up one run on three hits, walked four and struck out two. His two strikeouts were big.<\/p>\n
And the frigid night air helped him immensely. Hitting a baseball on this night was like hitting a rock. The Twins hit several balls hard that died on the warning track and near the wall.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought he handled himself really good,\u201d Reds manager Tito Francona told reporters after the game. \u201cHe was having fun pitching. He looked like he was enjoying himself. I like that. When guys are enjoying themselves they are competing and then we\u2019re OK.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Cincinnati Reds pitcher Brandon Williamson throws to the Minnesota Twins during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 17, 2026, in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n
Ellen Schmidt – FR171854 AP<\/p>\n
The Twins filled the bases in the third on a hit batsman, a single by Byron Buxton and a walk, but Williamson caught Luke Keaschall gaping at strike three.<\/p>\n
Williamson walked the first three hitters in the fifth with the Reds in front, 2-0.<\/p>\n
Austin Martin lined one to right and Will Benson made a sliding catch on his knees that turned a bases-clearing double into a sacrifice fly.<\/p>\n
Enter Suarez, usually the designated hitter but playing third base as Francona was searching for more offense and installed Nate Lowe as the designated hitter.<\/p>\n
That meant defensive wizard Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes was on the bench with his .064 batting average.<\/p>\n
It looked as if Suarez was using Ke\u2019Bryan\u2019s glove.<\/p>\n
After the sacrifice fly it was 2-1 and the Twins had runners on third and first with one out. Keaschall drove one to Suarez\u2019s right. He made a backhanded stab and started a 5-4-3 inning-ending double play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love playing third base,\u201d said Suarez. \u201cThose plays make me excited, makes me think I still have it and I\u2019m not done playing third base yet.\u201d<\/p>\n
And he wasn\u2019t done flashing leather.<\/p>\n
Graham Ashcraft gave up a one-out walk and a two-out single in the seventh that put the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base.<\/p>\n
Once again Suarez robbed Keaschall. This time he hit it between third and short. Suarez sprinted to his left, made a diving stop and threw him out.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first one was a better one for me,\u201d said Suarez. \u201cHe hit it hard to me and I was able to make a double play. And that was my first thought.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Cincinnati Reds third baseman Sal Stewart bats against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 17, 2026, in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n
Ellen Schmidt – FR171854 AP<\/p>\n
And the next one?<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just trying to save a run,\u201d he told reporters. \u201cI don\u2019t want that ground ball to go to the outfield and I did it. It was good for me and good for our team to keep the game close.\u201d<\/p>\n
The bullpen \u2014 the bullpen with the lowest earned average in MLB \u2014 took it from there.<\/p>\n
Tony Santillan gave up a leadoff single in the eighth, but retired the next three.<\/p>\n
Emilio Pagan pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his sixth save and praised Williamson.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/69e2dc659361a.image.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Cincinnati Reds right fielder Will Benson prepares to catch for an out on the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, April 17, 2026, in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n
Ellen Schmidt – FR171854 AP<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was so cool,\u201d he said. \u201cI don\u2019t have a team in my home state (South Carolina), so I don\u2019t know what that feels like.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo pitch against his favorite team in front of that many friends and family had to be a real surreal feeling. He handled it really great, threw the ball real well.\u201d<\/p>\n
When somebody said the Reds might have the game\u2019s best bullpen, Pagan said, \u201cHuh, we think so. The results are going to come and go with how often relievers throw.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs long as we\u2019re throwing the ball well, we don\u2019t need to focus on results,\u201d he added. \u201cWe\u2019ve been executing pitches at a high level and it\u2019s fun, fun to be a part of that group every day.\u201d<\/p>\n
NEXT GAME<\/p>\n
Who: Cincinnati at Minnesota<\/p>\n
When: 2:10 p.m., Saturday, April 18<\/p>\n