Cincinnati Reds rally for 5-4 win over Minnesota Twins

Q: How did the Cincinnati Reds win against the Minnesota Twins?

The Reds rallied in the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings, scoring runs through singles, productive outs, and a sacrifice fly.

Q: What was the Cincinnati Reds' offensive performance like before the game against the Twins?

Before the game, the Reds had the lowest runs scored in the league and a .197 team batting average, relying heavily on home runs for scoring.

Q: Who were the key players in the Reds' bullpen during the game?

Brock Burke, Kyle Nicolas, and Tony Santillan were instrumental in the bullpen's performance, helping to secure the win.

Q: What is the significance of the Reds' win over the Twins?

The win marked a significant turnaround for the Reds, showcasing their ability to rally despite ongoing offensive struggles this season.

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 18: Tony Santillan #64 (L) and Tyler Stephenson #37 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrate the win against the Minnesota Twins after the game at Target Field on April 18, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Reds defeated the Twins 5-4. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Cincinnati Reds entered play on Saturday with just 66 runs scored so far this season, the lowest such mark of any team in the game. They also entered play with just 19 doubles (fewest), one triple (five teams have zero), and 86 singles (second fewest), an indicator that they haven’t just struggled to cross the plate, they’ve struggled to hit the ball in the field of play altogether. Despite their .197 team average (last), they have socked 21 homers – tied for a respectable 12th so far this season. In other words, they have been absolutely dependent upon hitting homers to score their runs in 2026, moreso than any other team out there. So, when they hit the road for Minneapolis this weekend and the temperatures and swirling winds suggested hitting anything over the wall would be near impossible, well, it was hard to muster much hope for this offense’s success given what we’ve seen so far. It was with that in mind that their rally past the Twins on Saturday looked that much more special. They trailed 2-0 early as starter struggled again with his command, and trailed 4-2 entering the Top of the 7th as went to their bullpen. And though they rallied back for the win (thanks to the elite work of , , and Tony Santillan at the back end of the ‘pen when other big names weren’t available), they *did not* do so with one big 3-run swing. Instead, they got runners on, over, and in in each of the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings, piecing together singles here, productive outs there, a key sac fly, and even a sacrifice bunt to move the game’s winning run into scoring position. It was a series of small-ball miracles, especially given the context of how this offense has operated (or not) through the season’s first 20 games. And, once again, the bullpen managed to slam the door at the end, something they’ve become brilliant with despite being banged up and overworked early on. There’s a quiet swagger with this club, one perhaps highlighted perfectly at the end of the series with the when the Giants barking closer tried to start a ruckus after they won the finale of a series they’d already lost. The Reds, though, weren’t interested in fisticuffs and instead the barking turned into a standoff before a nothingburger. hit the showers, packed their bags, and moved on to the next thing on their docket: a series in Minnesota in poor weather than they knew they were more than capable of winning. They’ve already won it, now. Next up is a chance for a series sweep on Sunday even though they still haven’t been playing their ‘best’ ball of the year. Today, I think it’s time for Terry Francona’s first **Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game**. He’s got this club doing all the right things at the right times even though they still haven’t clicked just yet…and they’re still 13-8 on the season.