— The fireworks weren’t just overhead on the Fourth of July — they were on the field at Citizens Bank Park.
Spencer Steer’s clutch two-run double in the third inning jumpstarted a five-run rally, and Reds reliever Tony Santillan delivered the biggest pitch of the night — a 98 mph frozen rope to strike out Alec Bohm with the bases loaded in the eighth — as Cincinnati outlasted the Philadelphia Phillies 9-6 in a game packed with drama, fireworks, and even a surprise moment from the stands.
With emotions running high and the Phillies threatening late, a Reds fan seated near the first-base line stole the show in the eighth by unfurling a homemade “2000 WINS LOADING…” banner in tribute to Reds manager Terry Francona, who is now just four victories shy of the elite milestone. The gesture got a nod from Francona himself, who tipped his cap after the final out — a rare public acknowledgment from the usually no-nonsense skipper.
“I love the passion — it’s what this game’s about,” Francona said postgame. “But we’re focused on the next one. We’ve got a long way to go.”
The Reds needed every ounce of that fire. Down 3-0 after Nick Castellanos launched a first-inning homer off starter Andrew Abbott, Cincinnati answered back in a big way. Phillies ace Jesús Luzardo, who entered the season looking like an early Cy Young candidate, unraveled quickly — allowing six runs before exiting in the third.
Elly De La Cruz added an RBI single in the fourth, and the Reds kept the pressure on with two more in the fifth. The Phillies kept chipping away with 14 hits, but a crucial defensive play in the fifth — a laser throw from De La Cruz that nailed Edmundo Sosa at the plate — helped preserve the Reds’ momentum.
In a pressure-packed eighth, the Phillies loaded the bases. But with the crowd on its feet and the tension peaking, Santillan fired a fastball that froze Bohm and silenced the stadium.
Sam Moll earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, while Emilio Pagán closed it out for his 19th save. The Reds improved to 44-41 and continue to push in the thick of the NL playoff race.
Up next: lefty Nick Lodolo (5-5, 3.52 ERA) takes the mound for Cincinnati against Phillies standout Ranger Suárez (7-2, 2.00 ERA) on Saturday in what’s shaping up to be another electric contest.
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🔥 DON’T BLINK: With milestone moments looming and the Reds rising, this series is must-watch baseball. Francona’s legacy is nearing a historic chapter — and fans everywhere are catching the fever
