Reds lean on rookies to edge visiting Padres

Sep 1, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; San Diego Padres outfielder Jase Bowen (4) slides into third after hitting a triple in the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images Jose Trevino singled home the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded single in the eighth to lead the Cincinnati Reds past the visiting San Diego Padres 4-3 Tuesday night in Cincinnati. Elly De La Cruz opened the game-winning rally with a walk against reliever Adrian Morejon (9-3). Sal Stewart followed with a single to center to put runners at the corners. After a groundout and an intentional walk to the light-hitting Matt McLain to load the bases, Trevino delivered the tiebreaking hit to center. Rookie Juan Brito, making his Reds debut, followed Trevino with a sacrifice fly to left for an insurance run. Fernando Tatis Jr. homered twice for the Padres (73-66), who lost for the fourth time in five games. Brock Burke (6-5) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win while Emilio Pagan allowed Tatis' second homer of the night in the ninth but still recorded his 20th save in 23 chances and his 14th in a row. Manny Machado put the Padres on top 1-0 in the first when his sacrifice fly to right scored Samad Taylor, who tripled against Cincinnati starter Nick Lodolo with one out. Lodolo pitched six innings, allowing just two runs on six hits. The Reds (66-73) got the run back in the bottom of the inning against San Diego starter Randy Vasquez. Hector Rodriguez opened with a double and JJ Bleday singled him home. Lodolo worked his way out of a massive jam in the third to keep the game tied. Jase Bowen tripled to open the inning. The Padres eventually loaded the bases with one out before Ty France grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. Tatis Jr. gave San Diego a 2-1 lead with one out in the fifth by driving a Lodolo sinker over the wall in right for his 18th homer of the season. The Reds again answered in the bottom of the inning thanks to a two-out rally from a pair of up-and-coming rookies. Edwin Arroyo lined a ground-rule double to right and Rodriguez drove him home with a sharp single to right, with Arroyo just beating the throw from Bowen. --Field Level Media