Cincinnati Reds DEFENSE showed up in some HUGE SPOTS!

The Cincinnati Reds' defense played a pivotal role in their 7-6, 11-inning walk-off victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in Game 2 of the May 23, 2026 doubleheader at Great American Ball Park.

Despite allowing 6 runs (4 earned off starter Chase Petty and others), the Reds' fielders delivered several standout moments that prevented bigger innings and kept the game within reach. In the top of the 2nd, with the Cardinals leading 1-0, second baseman Matt McLain made a leaping grab on a Victor Scott II fly ball for the final out, preserving the slim deficit.

Outfielder Blake Dunn shone in center/right, robbing extra-base hits with athletic plays. He made a tremendous leaping catch against the wall on Bryan Torres to end an inning, and added a diving snag that saved at least one run. These highlight-reel efforts energized the defense and limited Cardinals damage during their mid-game surge.

The infield contributed too. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz and the middle infield turned key double plays, including a 6-4-3 DP, while first baseman Nathaniel Lowe (and shifts with Spencer Steer) handled throws cleanly. No errors were charged to the Reds in the box score (Cardinals also error-free), reflecting solid fundamentals despite the high-scoring affair.

In extra innings, the bullpen (especially Pierce Johnson’s two perfect frames with a strikeout) and positioning held firm. The defense supported a comeback: after tying it in the 9th, they forced the 11th, where Blake Dunn’s fielder’s choice plated the walk-off winner.

Overall, the Reds’ athleticism—McLain’s leap, Dunn’s robberies, and crisp infield work—proved decisive. It complemented timely hitting (De La Cruz and Lowe homers) and bullpen resilience to snap a skid and split the doubleheader. In a tight NL Central race, such defensive gems can turn close games into wins.