The Cincinnati Reds faced a challenging situation on Sunday afternoon, trailing the Minnesota Twins 3-1 in the top of the ninth inning. While Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart have often been the driving forces behind the team’s offense, it was two lesser-known players who stepped up in a major way to secure a 7-4 victory.
Spencer Steer got the rally started with a line drive to right field, followed by Tyler Stephenson’s single to the same area. After a flyout from Rece Hinds, Dane Myers drew a walk, putting the bases loaded with just one out. This set the stage for TJ Friedl, who had struggled significantly this season but delivered a crucial moment when it mattered most.
Friedl’s Big Moment
TJ Friedl has had a tough start to the 2026 season, entering Sunday with a batting line of .137/.259/.137. He was the only player in Major League Baseball with as many at-bats as he had without recording an extra-base hit. However, in the ninth inning, Friedl had a chance to change his fortunes.
After watching a first-pitch fastball for a strike, Friedl launched a 96 mph fastball into the right-center field gap. The ball cleared the bases, scoring Steer, Benson (who had come in to run for Stephenson), and Myers. Friedl’s double came off a pitch that traveled at 102.1 mph, marking a significant moment for him and the team.
“I’ve always believed in myself,” Friedl said when asked about maintaining confidence during a slump. “Having my faith to fall back on. And then just coming in here every day, knowing I am a good player, and knowing what I can do. Just putting in the day every work…you got to keep swinging.”
Rece Hinds Comes Through
After Emilio Pagan blew his second save of the season in the ninth, the Reds needed another rally. They had their ideal ghost runner on second base—Elly De La Cruz. Sal Stewart started the inning with a 108 mph laser, but it was caught by left fielder Austin Martin. Then, Eugenio Suarez reached on a fielding error by Tristan Gray, and De La Cruz used his speed to score in a way only he could.
After Steer struck out, the Twins intentionally walked Will Benson, despite his .188 batting average this season. This brought up newly promoted outfielder Rece Hinds, who had struggled against right-handed pitchers, going 1-13 in his previous at-bats.
Hinds’ key to success in this at-bat was getting ahead in the count. He did so with a 2-0 lead before swinging and missing at a 2-1 slider. On the fourth pitch, he faced another slider and didn’t miss. He ripped a 101.7 mph double down the left field line, scoring Suarez and Benson to put the Reds ahead 7-4.
Manager Terry Francona praised both Friedl and Hinds after the game.
“How about that,” Francona said. “That makes it even better for us. That is big for Rece. That is huge for TJ (Friedl).”
The Reds are now 3-0 in extra innings in 2026, a marked improvement from their 3-12 record in 2025. This victory highlighted the importance of having multiple contributors on the offensive side, especially when the usual stars aren’t performing at their best. With Friedl and Hinds stepping up, the team showed resilience and depth that could be crucial as the season progresses.
