Steer Clears the Bases as Reds Rally Past Dodgers, Keep Sweep-Free Streak Alive

The Queen City crowd got their money’s worth Wednesday night as the Cincinnati Reds lassoed a late rally to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-2 at Great American Ball Park. Spencer Steer’s two-run triple in the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie, lifting the Reds to a crucial bounce-back win and extending their MLB-best streak of avoiding a series sweep to 35 straight.

The rally came after Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s abbreviated start raised concern in LA. Ohtani exited mid at-bat in the fourth inning after throwing two wild pitches and six consecutive balls. Though he stayed in the game as DH, the two-way phenom went 0-for-5 at the plate and was visibly frustrated.

That opened the door for Cincinnati’s late-game charge. After walks by Austin Hays and Tyler Stephenson, Steer capped off a grueling 11-pitch at-bat by drilling a deep drive to center. James Outman nearly made a highlight-reel grab at the wall but couldn’t hang on, and Hays and Stephenson raced home. Will Benson added an insurance RBI single, his second run driven in on the night.

Freddie Freeman had put the Dodgers ahead earlier with a two-run blast in the fourth, but the Reds bullpen held steady from there. Scott Barlow notched the win with two key outs in the eighth, and Tony Santillan closed the door with his third save of the season.

Off the field, Cincinnati remained active ahead of Thursday’s trade deadline, acquiring pitcher Zack Littell from the Rays and slick-fielding third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pirates. Hayes, a 2023 Gold Glove winner, brings elite defense and stability to a Reds team that has shuffled through six different third basemen this season.

The Reds remain firmly in the playoff race, sitting just three games back of the final NL Wild Card spot. With LHP Andrew Abbott (8-1, 2.09 ERA) slated to start Thursday’s showdown with Atlanta, Cincinnati is gunning for a strong finish to July—and looking to turn the corner in August.