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Hal McCoy<\/p>\n
Another day, another way for the Cincinnati Reds to lay in the weeds waiting to figure out a way to win a seemingly unwinnable baseball game.<\/p>\n
They figured it out again on Sunday, April 19 with a movie-like script that if seen on the silver screen would be critiqued as too schmaltzy, too unreal,\u00a0too unbelievable.<\/p>\n
Plainly stated, the Reds beat the Minnesota Twins, 7-4, in 10 innings to complete a three-game sweep and win for the fifth time in six games.<\/p>\n
They were down 3-1 in the ninth inning, scored three runs in the ninth to take a 4-3 lead.<\/p>\n
They gave up a run in the bottom of the ninth that tied it, then scored three in the 10th to win it.<\/p>\n
The game\u2019s biggest hit was TJ Friedl\u2019s three-run double in the ninth that gave the Reds a temporary 4-3 lead before having to win it in the 10th.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredible,\u201d Friedl told reporters after the game. \u201cWe know how good we are and we just play our game. The past few days have really shown that.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter what the score in, no matter what the inning is, we keep fighting and we showed that,\u201d he added.\u00a0<\/p>\n
This one needs some deep background.<\/p>\n
Six of the nine players in the lineup were hitting .060, .077, .137, .174, .183 and .203.<\/p>\n
Those were not the batting averages of the New York Mets, losers of 11straight games.<\/p>\n
Those were the batting averages of players Reds manager Tito Francona sent out to meet the Twins Sunday afternoon in Target Field.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, no problem.<\/p>\n
In addition, Cincinnati\u2019s starting pitcher, Brady Singer, was 1-5 in six career starts against the Twins.<\/p>\n
And the numbers were ugly against him from Minnesota\u2019s top four in the batting order:<\/p>\n
Byron Buxton (.389, two homers), Trevor Larnach (.462, a homer), Josh Bell (4 for 9, three extra base hits) and Victor Caratini (2 for 4 with a homer).<\/p>\n
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Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Brady Singer delivers against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of baseball game, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n
Matt Krohn – FR172020 AP<\/p>\n
As it turned out, no problem.<\/p>\n
Singer produced a shaky but quality start \u2014 six innings, three runs, five hits, four walks.<\/p>\n
But the Reds had only one run and three hits off Minnesota\u2019s 6-foot-9 starter Bailey Ober, who pitched like somebody 5-foot-9 with soft stuff and a fastball that topped at 88 miles an hour.<\/p>\n
So when the Reds entered the ninth inning, they trailed 3-1 and were 0 for 11 with runners on base. Not with runners in scoring position, with runners on any base.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, no problem.<\/p>\n
Spencer Steer started the ninth with a two-strike single to right field against Garrett Acton and Tyler Stephenson singled to right. With one out, Dane Myers drew a walk to fill the bases.<\/p>\n
That brought up TJ Friedl, 3 for 34 with no extra base hits all season for his first 91 plate appearances.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, no problem.<\/p>\n
Friedl ripped a bases-clearing three-run double up the right-center gap to give the Reds a 4-3 lead.<\/p>\n
On this day, though, closer Emilio Pagan was not in a closing mood in the bottom of the ninth. A pair of Minnesota doubles by James Outman, 0 for 19 for the season when the day began, and Austin Martin tied it, 4-4.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, no problem.<\/p>\n
In the 10th, with ghost runner Elly De La Cruz on second with one out, Eugenio Suarez hit one at third baseman Tristan Gray and he booted it for an error as De La Cruz took third.<\/p>\n
And when left fielder Martin fumbled the ball after retrieving Gray\u2019s misplay, De La Cruz bolted him on the second error of the play.<\/p>\n
That gave the Reds a 5-4 lead and put Suarez on second.<\/p>\n
The Twins elected to walk Will Benson intentionally to face Rece Hinds \u2014 1 for 16 since his call-up from Triple-A Louisville.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, no problem.<\/p>\n
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Cincinnati Reds’ Rece Hinds, right, celebrates after his RBI double against the Minnesota Twins during the 10th inning of baseball game, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n
Matt Krohn – FR172020 AP<\/p>\n
Hinds pulled a two-run double into the left field corner for two tack-on runs.<\/p>\n
With close Pagan used up in the ninth, Francona went to Graham Ashcraft for the bottom of the 10th, a guy who had no saves in his life \u2014 not in Little League, not in high school, not in the minors and not in the majors.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, no problem.<\/p>\n
But he did make it interesting by issuing a two-out walk that put runners on third and first with Brooks Lee representing the tying run.<\/p>\n
With two strikes, umpire Hunter Wendelstedt called Ashcraft\u2019s next pitch a ball. Reds back-up catcher PJ Higgins tapped his helmet for a challenge and ABS saw it as strike three, giving Ashcraft the first save of his lifetime.<\/p>\n
How else could this game end. . .a robot calling strike three to end it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know I keep saying it, but keep playing,\u201d Francona told reporters. \u201cOur game is so much about how you handle frustration. We didn\u2019t have a lot going on.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they kept plugging away and giving us a chance and TJ with that huge hit,\u201d he added. \u201cI know that had to feel good to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Graham Ashcraft celebrates his teams win against the Minnesota Twins during the tenth inning of baseball game, Sunday, April 19, 2026, in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n
Matt Krohn – FR172020 AP<\/p>\n
Plugging away has been the first-place 14-8 Reds\u2019 identity all season, its modus operandi.<\/p>\n
The Reds emptied the bench to win this one and Francona said, \u201cHow about that? That makes it even better for us. And it was big for Rece (Hinds).\u201d<\/p>\n
And Brady Singer, who put the first two Twins hitters on base.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe limited the damage in the first inning, gave up one run, which was huge,\u201d said Francona. \u201cThen he hung around for six innings with 100 pitches (104) and gave up three, where it could easily have been five or six. He battled his rear end off.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Reds won this one despite going 2 for 14 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine.<\/p>\n
As it turned out, no problem.<\/p>\n
When the three-game series began, the Twins led baseball with a .321 batting average with runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n
On Sunday, they were 3 for 16 and stranded 11. For the three games they were 6 for 34 with RISP and left 31 runners on base while scoring nine runs.<\/p>\n
NEXT GAME<\/p>\n
Who: Cincinnati at Tampa Bay<\/p>\n
When: 6:40 p.m., Monday, April 20<\/p>\n