Spencer Steer Triple in 8th – Game Winner
CINCINNATI – July 30, 2025 – EVAN MILLER
The Reds took the field on a blazing hot July night and finished their series against the Dodgers strong, defeating them 5–2. The Reds executed well, combining minimal mistakes on the mound with timely hitting.
They didn’t waste any time trying to take control of the game, as pitcher Nick Martinez retired L.A.’s first three batters in order. Cincinnati struck first when Elly De La Cruz hit a ball into center field, scoring Gavin Lux.
The game went into a scoring drought until the top of the 4th, when the Dodgers responded to the Reds’ first inning run. First baseman Freddie Freeman took Red’s pitcher Nick Martinez 407 feet into center field, notching his 11th home run of the season and bringing in an additional run.
The scoring didn’t stop there. In the bottom of the 4th, the Dodgers’ recovering ace, Shohei Ohtani, was pulled due to cramping. Before his exit, Ohtani had walked two batters and put one in scoring position with wild pitches. Banda then took the mound, and Will Benson hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Noelvi Marte, who made an impressive slide at the plate to tie the game.
Both teams went scoreless for two innings, with pitchers giving up only two combined hits until the 8th. Reds starter Nick Martinez was pulled after six innings for right-hander Luis May. The Reds made another pitching change in the 8th, bringing in lefty Sam Moll. After allowing a double and walking Freeman, Moll was replaced by Barlow, who allowed only one hit and finished the inning.
The Reds ended the scoring drought in the bottom of the 8th. With two outs and two runners walked, seventh batter Spencer Steer came to the plate and battled against Dodgers pitcher Emmet Sheehan. After several foul balls, Steer smashed a deep shot to center that nearly cleared the park. The hit scored two and put Steer on third. Following a pitching change, Will Benson grounded to first, bringing in another run.
Tony Santillan closed out the night on the mound for the Reds, striking out three and hitting one batter. The Reds looked like a must-watch team last night against the Dodgers, and they hope to make it back-to-back wins tonight as they begin their series with the Atlanta Braves.
NEXT
Reds host Braves at Great American Ballpark on Thursday – First Pitch 7:10 PM
