Tyler Stephenson clubs walk-off homer to lead Reds past Pirates, 3-1

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

Ty Steeeeeves!

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Tyle Stephenson might not have been called up to rescue the Cincinnati Reds season, but he might just try to do it anyway.

Summoned from the bench in the Bottom of the 7th inning in the first game of Monday’s doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Stephenson clubbed a walk-off 2-run tater, one that came just minutes after Pittsburgh had tied the game in the final frame and taken much of the air out of the day’s balloon.

He’s surely not going to just bash dingers like Mike Piazza all the way through his career...is he?

Honorable Mentions are due to: Trevor Bauer, who’s outing (6.1 IP, 4 H, 2 BB, 12 K on 105 pitches) was once again excellent; Shogo Akiyama, who walked twice from the leadoff spot; and Joey Votto, who dingered and walked.

Key Plays

• That Votto blast? It came in the Bottom of the 4th off Pirates starter Cody Ponce, and it was the first Reds hit of the day. Not a bad way to say no to a no-no. Reds led, 1-0.
• Bauer cruised into the Top of the 7th having allowed a lone hit and no damage, but that ended quickly with a meatball served to Colin Moran, who hit a moonball solo dinger just over the wall in LF to tie things up and bust what was about to be a pretty slick narrative. Two more singles later - the second a swinging bunt - and Bauer’s day was done, and Raisel Iglesias was summoned to get the final pair of outs with a pair of runners on-base. He did just that.
• The Bottom of the 7th saw the drama, as Jose Garcia singled before Stephenson stepped to the plate, and the rookie catcher socked his walk-off into the LF stands. Reds won, 3-1!

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Nick Senzel made his return to the lineup in this one, playing CF while batting 7th. It was his first game since August 14th after being sidelined with [redacted].
• Anthony DeSclafani will toe the rubber for the Reds in the back-half of today’s doubleheader shortly.
• Tunes.