Cincinnati Reds sweep Twins thanks to 9th inning comeback on Sunday

TL;DR

The Cincinnati Reds completed a sweep of the Minnesota Twins with a dramatic 9th inning comeback, winning 7-4 in extra innings. This victory places the Reds at the top of the NL Central with a record of 14-8.

Key points

Cincinnati Reds completed a sweep of the Minnesota Twins
Reds won 7-4 in extra innings
TJ Friedl hit a crucial double in the 9th inning
Rece Hinds cleared the bases with a double
Reds now lead the NL Central with a 14-8 record

Cincinnati RedsMinnesota Twins

Apr 18, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) look to the video boards in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-Imagn Images | Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

For eight innings on Sunday, the Cincinnati Reds looked mostly miserable in the cold confines of Target Field. Minnesota Twins starter Bailey Ober had their number (6.0 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 BB, 10 K) each and every time a Red actually reached a base, with the Reds – at one point – sitting 0 for 11 with runners on-base for the game. Then, though, the Reds got an idea. An awful idea. The Reds got a wonderful, awful idea! The Reds – believe it or not – decided the floodgates deserved opening! Rookie righty Andrew Morris got out of a jam in the Top of the 9th, but the starter-turned-reliever was brought back out for the 9th inning by Twins manager Derek Shelton as a confidence boost, I can only assume. Cincinnati wasted little time in getting right to him, as Spencer Steer singled, Tyler Stephenson singled behind him, Dane Myers coaxed a walk, and **Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game** TJ Friedl smashed his first extra-base hit into the gap in right-center to clear the bases and give the Reds a 4-3 lead. The Twins got out of the inning, though, and managed to get a leadoff runner on, over, and in off Reds closer Emilio Pagan to send the game disappointingly into extras. Disappointing *for us*, I should clarify, as the Cincinnati offense had only just begun to warm up, apparently. Elly De La Cruz was the Manfred Man at 2B to begin the inning, and the fortuitous way that worked out meant he was set to wreak havoc on the bases immediately. That happened with 1-out as Eugenio Suarez topped a grounder between short and 3B that was booted by the Twins infield, and Elly motored initially to 3B. However, the Minnesota LF bobbled the ball, and Elly reversed reversing course to sprint home and give the Reds a lead they wouldn’t relinquish this time. After the Twins intentionally walked Will Benson to set up force outs, Rece Hinds cleared the bases again with a clutch double into the LF corner, and that put Cincinnati up 7-4. Graham Ashcraft, who had literally never saved a game before in his life, came on to pitch the Bottom of the 10th, and he wrapped the game up in short order. That’s a sweep for the 14-8 Cincinnati Reds, who sit alone atop the NL Central leaderboard.

Other Notes

Each of Cincinnati’s three hardest-hit balls of the day resulted in outs. Elly smashed a grounder at 109.3 mph that went for an out, while Sal Stewart blasted a bal 108.8 mph that went for a lineout.
There were no homers socked by either team this entire series in the cold weather up north.
Friedl went 2 for 3, and after his clutch double his slugging percentage (.167) is now higher than his average for the year (.154).
Ke’Bryan Hayes, meanwhile, went 0 for 2 before being subbed. He’s down to .058/.125/.058 on the year.
Brady Singer battled early and admirably kept the Reds in the game (6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K on 104 pitches). He still doesn’t look ‘right’ and his peripherals remain ugly, but that’s a serviceable outing any way you look at it.
The four fastest pitches of the game were all thrown by Connor Phillips (up to 99.3 mph). He’s got all the makings of Cincinnati’s closer of the future, as well as (perhaps) the present.
PJ Higgins ended up catching in extra innings after Will Benson came on to pinch-run for (and score for) Tyler Stephenson in the crucial 9th inning rally. He’s a master of the strike zone, and the game actually ended on his challenge of a ball call on a pitch by Ashcraft that was, in fact, actually a strike.
The Reds will get warm, dry, and cozy on the next stop of their road trip as they head to Tampa and their rebuilt dome. First pitch on Monday is set for 6:40 PM ET, and Rhett Lowder will toe the rubber for the Reds. The Rays have yet to announce their starter at the time of publishing.

Q&A

What was the final score of the Cincinnati Reds vs Minnesota Twins game?

The Cincinnati Reds won the game 7-4 against the Minnesota Twins.

Who were the standout players in the Reds' comeback against the Twins?

TJ Friedl and Rece Hinds were key players, with Friedl hitting a crucial double and Hinds clearing the bases with a double.

What is the current record of the Cincinnati Reds after sweeping the Twins?

The Cincinnati Reds now have a record of 14-8, placing them at the top of the NL Central.

When is the next game for the Cincinnati Reds after their series against the Twins?

The Cincinnati Reds will play their next game on Monday against the Tampa Bay Rays at 6:40 PM ET.

Cincinnati Reds sweep Twins thanks to 9th inning comeback on Sunday

TL;DR

Key points

Cincinnati Reds completed a sweep of the Minnesota Twins
Reds won 7-4 in extra innings
TJ Friedl hit a crucial double in the 9th inning
Rece Hinds cleared the bases with a double
Reds now lead the NL Central with a 14-8 record

Cincinnati RedsMinnesota Twins

Other Notes

Each of Cincinnati’s three hardest-hit balls of the day resulted in outs. Elly smashed a grounder at 109.3 mph that went for an out, while Sal Stewart blasted a bal 108.8 mph that went for a lineout.
There were no homers socked by either team this entire series in the cold weather up north.
Friedl went 2 for 3, and after his clutch double his slugging percentage (.167) is now higher than his average for the year (.154).
Ke’Bryan Hayes, meanwhile, went 0 for 2 before being subbed. He’s down to .058/.125/.058 on the year.
Brady Singer battled early and admirably kept the Reds in the game (6.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K on 104 pitches). He still doesn’t look ‘right’ and his peripherals remain ugly, but that’s a serviceable outing any way you look at it.
The four fastest pitches of the game were all thrown by Connor Phillips (up to 99.3 mph). He’s got all the makings of Cincinnati’s closer of the future, as well as (perhaps) the present.
PJ Higgins ended up catching in extra innings after Will Benson came on to pinch-run for (and score for) Tyler Stephenson in the crucial 9th inning rally. He’s a master of the strike zone, and the game actually ended on his challenge of a ball call on a pitch by Ashcraft that was, in fact, actually a strike.
The Reds will get warm, dry, and cozy on the next stop of their road trip as they head to Tampa and their rebuilt dome. First pitch on Monday is set for 6:40 PM ET, and Rhett Lowder will toe the rubber for the Reds. The Rays have yet to announce their starter at the time of publishing.