Rookie Sal Stewart delivered a decisive two-run home run in the 11th inning on Tuesday night to lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. The result snapped a five-game losing streak for Cincinnati and marked just their third win in the last 12 games.
Stewart’s blast off Yuki Matsui was his 13th home run of the season, finally separating the two sides after a tense extra-inning battle.
The San Diego Padres have now lost 12 of their last 15 contests and continue a slump that has seen them fail to win back-to-back games since May 23. While some analysts have looked at Orioles and Phillies for World Series forecasts, the Padres are struggling with fundamental execution.
They stranded 13 runners in this contest, including seven between the sixth and ninth innings, wasting a four-hit performance from Fernando Tatis Jr.
Tejay Antone earned the win for the Cincinnati Reds, moving to a 1-0 record after navigating the 10th inning. This followed a difficult outing for the pitcher in a 6-2 loss earlier in the week. Zach Maxwell then stepped in during the 11th to retire three straight batters and secure his first career save.
Yuki Matsui took the loss for San Diego, falling to 0-1 on the season.
Sal Stewart provides the decisive 11th inning spark
Stewart’s two-run shot in the 11th inning capped a night of high-leverage exchanges between the two bullpens. The 10th inning saw both teams exchange runs, starting with an RBI double from Eugenio Suárez to end a 2-for-26 slump. San Diego responded immediately in the bottom of the frame when Samad Taylor drove an RBI single up the middle to tie the game at 3-3.
San Diego had multiple chances to end the game earlier, most notably in the bottom of the ninth. The Padres loaded the bases with only one out following three singles. However, Cincinnati Reds reliever Sam Moll struck out Manny Machado and Gavin Sheets in succession to escape the jam.
This lack of production with runners on base has become a recurring issue for a Padres lineup that often fails to capitalize on offensive threats.
The frustration for San Diego fans began early when Jackson Merrill hit an RBI triple, but the lead did not hold. The Padres were also without Xander Bogaerts, who missed his bobblehead night while on paternity leave. For a team hoping to build momentum, the inability to string together hits when they mattered most proved fatal against a struggling Cincinnati squad.
Pitching struggles and statistical milestones at Petco Park
Lucas Giolito started for the San Diego Padres but faced immediate command issues, issuing five walks over just four innings of work. Despite the control problems, he allowed only one earned run and two singles, though he committed an error that allowed another run to score.
On the other side, Cincinnati Reds starter Chase Burns struck out seven batters but surrendered six hits during his time on the mound.
Fernando Tatis Jr. provided a silver lining for San Diego by reaching a major career milestone. His four-hit night included scoring the 500th run of his career, further cementing his status as one of the game’s elite offensive talents. However, his individual success was overshadowed by the team’s collective failure to drive in runs, a problem that has plagued them across their last 15 games.
The defensive discipline required to close out such tight games is a staple of professional sports, much like the technical drills led by Luke Littler for his teammates in recent sessions. Cincinnati showed that focus in the 11th, with Maxwell’s efficient three-out save preventing any further Padres comeback. This win moves Cincinnati to Petco Park’s win column as they look to salvage their road trip.
Upcoming mound matchups for the Reds and Padres
The two teams are scheduled to meet again on June 12 at Petco Park for the next installment of this series. Michael King will take the mound for the San Diego Padres, carrying a 4-5 record and a 3.41 ERA into the contest. He will look to steady a rotation that has been stretched thin by recent short outings from the starting staff.
Cincinnati will counter with Brady Singer, who has struggled this season with a 2-6 record and a 5.89 ERA. This pitching matchup offers San Diego a chance to break their streak of 15 games without back-to-back wins. However, the Padres must address their offensive inefficiency after leaving so many runners on base during Tuesday’s loss.
While fans in San Francisco recently dealt with a streaming glitch during the Giants game, the Petco Park faithful were left with the clear frustration of a missed opportunity. The Cincinnati Reds will hope Stewart’s home run serves as a turning point for their season as they stay in San Diego.
For the Padres, the pressure on the lineup to support their pitching staff continues to grow.
