The ask of the Cincinnati Reds’ bullpen was to once again hold late in a tie game. Similarly, the task for the Reds’ was bats to deliver again in the late innings. Both asks proved to be too much.
A night after a rousing comeback win in 10 innings against the Kansas City Royals, the Reds on June 3 managed to pull even from an early 2-0 deficit but lost 5-2 at Great American Ball Park. Reliever Tony Santillan allowed three runs in the top of the ninth inning, with Michael Massey singling in the go-ahead run for a 3-2 lead.
Nick Loftin then gave the Royals some cushion with a two-run homer.
“It may be different at different times,” Reds manager Terry Francona said of Santillan’s struggles. “We’re at a point where we need some stability so much, and he’s the guy that − so, we’re gonna have to figure that out. Do we pick our spots a little bit? I mean, we tried to do that before but with everybody going down, that’s been a little bit more difficult.”
In the bottom of the ninth, Spencer Steer started a rally with a double down the left-field line but Will Benson and Edwin Arroyo both struck out after the hit. The freshly promoted Noelvi Marte then walked to reach base in his first at-bat since being recalled from Triple-A Louisville.
That brought the tying run to the plate in Blake Dunn, the prior night’s walk-off hero in the 10th inning. Dunn had already hit the game-tying, two-run homer in the fifth inning, but flew out to end the series finale.
Reds starter Chase Burns (7-1, no decision) allowed first inning two-run homer to Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino.
The Dunn home run was all the offense Cincinnati (31-30) could muster in the finale as they also lost the series to the Royals, who entered play tied for the worst record in baseball at 23-38.
Burns, coming off an illness and being scratched from starting the June 1 series opener, went six innings and allowed four hits and one walk. He struck out nine as he ERA drifted up slightly from 1.96 to 2.05.
Recapping a busy Reds homestand
Being a Reds fan the last few days required some mettle and fortitude. The club had to grit out its now-concluded homestand on which it dropped four of six games, and also contended with major injury issues.
Just look at this overview of the news cycle from the Reds’ most recent homestand:
There have been other newsy notes and happenings along the way, including some encouraging movement regarding the starting staff. After three solid starts and amassing 15 innings, Chris Paddack moved to the Reds bullpen and was available there June 3.
Also, Rhett Lowder will remain with Triple-A Louisville to workout following his June 2 rehab start and rejoin the Reds when they arrive in St. Louis for three games June 5-7. Lowder will also pitch in the series.
After landing on the IL May 10, Lowder on June 2 allowed three runs and six hits across five innings against the Memphis Redbirds, throwing 50 of 70 pitches for strikes in his first competitive outing since exiting his May 7 start against the Chicago Cubs with an injury.
Lowder struck out eight batters and didn’t issue a walk in Louisville’s game against Memphis.
Next up for the Reds | On the road at St. Louis, San Diego
The Reds have a chance on their upcoming roadtrip to put a dent in the National League Central race, as well as in the NL Wild Card race.
First up, Cincinnati, which is off June 4, will have a chance to improve on its 2-10 record against NL Central opposition when it travels to play the St. Louis Cardinals June 5-7 at Busch Stadium. The Reds, who split a May 23 doubleheader in their only two games against the Cardinals so far in 2026, will begin the series with Brady Singer (2-5, 6.18 ERA) facing Kyle Leahy (5-3, 4.25 ERA) on June 5 for a scheduled 8:15 p.m. EDT first pitch.
In the June 6 middle game, Nick Lodolo (2-1, 5.20 ERA) will go up against Matthew Liberatore (3-3, 4.35 ERA). The June 7 finale will see Lowder make his first start since May 7 at Wrigley Field. He’s scheduled to be opposed by Michael McGreevy (3-5, 2.98 ERA).
The second and third games of the Reds-Cardinals series are scheduled for 2:15 p.m. EDT starts.
St. Louis will enter the series following a series defeat against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field.
Cincinnati will then head west to Petco Park to face a Padres team (32-28) that was swept in three games by the Philadelphia Phillies and had lost four in a row at the end of play on June 3. Prior to hosting Cincinnati, the Padres host the New York Mets, the last-place team in the NL East.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds lose game, series to Kansas City Royals
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
