In a thrilling Saturday showdown at Globe Life Field, the Cincinnati Reds emerged victorious over the reigning World Series champions, the Texas Rangers, with an impressive 8-4 victory.
Reds’ ace Hunter Greene showcased his dominance on the mound, holding the Rangers to a mere one hit over seven scoreless innings. Greene’s electric fastball and sharp breaking pitches kept the Rangers’ batters at bay, striking out six and walking only one.
At the plate, Jonathan India led the Reds’ offensive charge with a four-hit performance, including a two-run homer in the seventh inning that extended Cincinnati’s lead to 5-0. India’s RBI singles in the second and fourth innings had already given the Reds an early advantage.
Will Benson added another two-run homer for the Reds in the seventh, further solidifying their lead. The Rangers’ lone hit off Greene came from Josh Smith’s double in the fifth inning, but he was stranded at third base.
Michael Lorenzen, the former Reds pitcher now with the Rangers, struggled against his old team, allowing five runs on six hits in six innings. Lorenzen struck out three and walked one.
The Rangers’ bullpen, which had been impressive in recent outings, faltered in the ninth inning. Brent Suter, who had pitched a perfect eighth, allowed six hits, including back-to-back homers by Davis Wendzel and Corey Seager. Alexis Díaz came on to record the final two outs and secure the save for the Reds.
The Reds’ victory marked their sixth win in their last nine games, while the Rangers suffered their second consecutive loss. The series finale on Sunday will feature Andrew Abbott on the mound for the Reds and Dane Dunning for the Rangers.
