Reds’ Pitching Implodes in 11-5 Loss to Athletics

The Cincinnati Reds saw a golden opportunity slip away in their push for a postseason berth. They suffered an 11-5 defeat to the Oakland Athletics in Sacramento.

Cincinnati took an early lead. But their pitching fell apart, the bullpen caved, and the bats just didn’t show up when it mattered most.

With the loss, the Reds dropped back to the .500 mark. They lost ground in the National League Wild Card race and now trail the New York Mets by 1.5 games, with other contenders breathing down their necks.

Reds Jump Ahead Early but Can’t Hold the Lead

Things actually started well for Cincinnati. Tyler Stephenson and Will Benson helped them grab a quick 2-0 advantage.

That momentum vanished fast. Oakland answered right away as Hunter Greene struggled from the outset, giving up three runs in the early innings, including home runs from Brent Rooker and Carlos Cortes.

Greene’s Early Exit Changes the Game

The night went downhill for Greene in the third inning. He got hit by a sharp comebacker, lost his control, and had to leave the game.

By the time Greene walked off, the Reds trailed 5-2. Manager David Bell had no choice but to turn to his bullpen way earlier than planned.

Stephenson’s Heroics Briefly Level the Score

In the fourth, Tyler Stephenson delivered the biggest swing of the night for Cincinnati. His three-run homer tied things up at 5-5.

The Reds’ dugout came alive for a moment. But that hope didn’t last long.

Oakland Answers and Builds Momentum

Nick Martinez kept Cincinnati in the game through the middle innings. But Oakland struck again in the seventh.

Shea Langeliers and Jacob Wilson came through with clutch hits, putting the Athletics ahead again. That set up a nightmare eighth inning for the Reds.

Bullpen Collapse Seals Cincinnati’s Fate

Graham Ashcraft came in for relief but couldn’t slow down Oakland’s offense. The eighth inning was brutal.

Rookie Nick Kurtz crushed a 493-foot grand slam—easily the longest home run in the majors this season. That blast pretty much ended it, with Oakland racking up six runs in the inning.

Stark Contrast in Relief Pitching

The numbers say it all. Reds relievers allowed:

• 6 earned runs
• 8 hits
• 3 walks
• Across just 5.2 innings

Meanwhile, the Athletics bullpen shut the door. They held Cincinnati scoreless over the final four innings and never let the Reds threaten a comeback.

Offense Fails to Deliver in Key Spots

Sal Stewart led the way with three hits. Stephenson added two hits and drove in four runs.

The rest of Cincinnati’s lineup just couldn’t get anything going. They missed several chances to score—something that’s become a frustrating trend lately.

Playoff Race Tightens Up

The timing couldn’t be much worse. The Reds aren’t just chasing the Mets for that last Wild Card spot—the Giants and Diamondbacks are right there too.

Every loss feels heavier now, with only a few weeks left in the season. Can they turn it around? Hard to say, but the pressure’s not letting up.

Looking Ahead: Avoiding the Sweep

The series wraps up Sunday, and Cincinnati’s putting left-hander Nick Lodolo on the mound to try to turn things around. He’s up against Oakland’s righty Luis Morales, who’s been drawing some attention lately.

Honestly, it’s starting to feel like a must-win if the Reds want to keep their playoff hopes alive. They’ve flashed some real potential, but their pitching needs to settle down, and the bats have to show up when it matters most.

Sunday’s game isn’t just another day at the park—it’s a real test of this team’s grit. Maybe it even ends up defining their 2024 season. Guess we’ll find out soon enough.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Reds pitching falls apart in an 11-5 loss to the Athletics