Reds 6-2 Rays (Jul 26, 2025) Game Recap

Elly De La Cruz delivered a tie-breaking two-run single in the seventh inning, propelling the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night. The Reds secured their third consecutive win, while the Rays extended their road struggles with a sixth straight away loss and 12 defeats in their last 15 road games.

With the score locked at 2-2 in the seventh, De La Cruz's bloop single off reliever Garrett Cleavinger with the bases loaded gave Cincinnati a 4-2 lead. Graham Ashcraft (6-4) earned the win by pitching the seventh inning, and Emilio Pagán closed the game with a perfect ninth for his 22nd save.

Tampa Bay initially took a 1-0 lead in the sixth when Yandy Díaz hit his 18th home run off Reds starter Andrew Abbott. Abbott allowed only two hits and one run over six innings, walking three and striking out seven. Rays starter Ryan Pepiot, making his first career appearance against his childhood favorite team, yielded two unearned runs across six innings. His lone hit through 5.1 innings came via a first-inning ground-rule double by De La Cruz, resulting from left fielder Christopher Morel's misjudged fly ball.

Cincinnati claimed a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Austin Hays' two-out grounder slipped under shortstop Taylor Walls' glove for an error, allowing two unearned runs to score. Bryan Baker (3-4) was charged with the loss for Tampa Bay.

A notable incident occurred in the seventh when Reds manager Terry Francona was ejected by home plate umpire Willie Traynor for arguing balls and strikes—Francona's 53rd career ejection and third this season. Abbott's performance extended a season trend, as he has allowed one or fewer earned runs in 14 of his 17 starts.

The series concludes Sunday with Rays right-hander Shane Baz (8-6, 4.66 ERA) facing Reds right-hander Brady Singer (7-8, 4.84 ERA).