Dropped final out ultimately costs Reds as their ninth-inning comeback bid falls short against Cardinals

In a thrilling game at Great American Ball Park, the Cincinnati Reds fell short of an 8th-inning comeback against the St. Louis Cardinals. With Cincinnati leading 5-4, the Reds had a chance to pull off the improbable victory, but their hopes were dashed by a costly mistake.

During the final moments of the game, Reds left fielder TJ Friedl made an ill-fated attempt on a fly ball hit by Cardinals rookie JJ Wetherholt. The sun obscured the field of play, leading to a miscommunication between Friedl and Dane Myers, who was covering left-center field. Myers dropped the routine putout, allowing Wetherholt to reach second base.

With two outs and the bases loaded, the Cardinals quickly capitalized on Myers' error. Alec Burleson and José Fermín each hit RBI singles, putting the Cardinals ahead 6-5. Cincinnati responded with a flurry of its own, scoring four runs in the bottom half of the inning with two outs. Matt McLain's grand slam provided the lead, and Eugenio Suárez's pinch-hit single scored one run, followed by Sal Stewart's single and Elly De La Cruz's walk to load the bases.

However, the Reds' efforts were not enough as the Cardinals held on for a 10-9 victory. The Reds' ninth-inning comeback bid, which included four runs, ultimately fell short, leaving Cincinnati fans to endure two heartbreaking victory teases. This dramatic game was a microcosm of the intense five-game series between the NL Central rivals, with the Cardinals taking Games 1, 3, and 5, while the Reds managed only three wins in the series.