Cincinnati Reds Offense Explodes For 24 Runs

The Cincinnati Reds exploded for a 24-2 win against the Baltimore Orioles in the Sunday series finale at Camden Yards. It’s great to see such a young, exciting team have that much success in one game, especially on the road against a tough Baltimore team. Maybe this is a turning point for the Reds. 

Reds Offensive Explosion

The Reds didn’t start their hitting until the 2nd inning. After a Jake Fraley walk, Noelvi Marte hit a single. Austin Wynns followed that up with an RBI single. It was tied 1-1 by the end of the 2nd inning until Elly De La Cruz stepped into the batter’s box.

Standing in the left-hand box, he rushed the 1-2 pitch from Charlie Morton into the right-center seats. Austin Hays, Spencer Steer, Fraley, Wynns, and Matt McLain also produced singles in the 3rd inning while TJ Friedl mashed a triple to right field. They ended up rallying for seven runs, with 11 batters heading to the place, leaving the inning with an 8-1 lead.

The 4th and 5th innings were more of the same. Another two runs came in the 4th on a Marte double and Wynns single. In the 5th, Hays had an RBI double, and newcomer Gavin Lux with an RBI single. It was still only 12-1, halfway from their full game total. 3 more runs came in the 7th.

The amount of offense given up led to two position players on the mound for the Orioles. Jorge Mateo and Gary Sánchez finished up the last two innings. With Mateo pitching, five runs came across, with most of the damage coming from a Marte grand slam. Sánchez came out for the 9th and gave up four more runs, three coming from a Wynns three-run homer. 

While everyone contributed, the standouts were Wynns (6-7 with 6 RBI) and Marte (5-7 with 7 RBI). Each player in the starting lineup, including Blake Dunn off the bench, had at least one hit. 

How It Breaks Down

It was the 4th time since 1901 the Reds scored 24 runs. The last time was at Colorado on May 19, 1999. The team record is 26 runs, done way back in 1911 against the Boston Braves. Their 25 hits were also the most since the Rockies game. 

Since tracking began on hits with runners in scoring position in 1975, their 15 hits with that in mind were the most. The Reds reached base 38 times, including 11 walks, a new single-game franchise record.