Reds lose closer Emilio Pagán to injury, lose to Cubs in extra innings

TL;DR

Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán injured his left hamstring after just one pitch in the ninth inning against the Cubs, leading to his exit from the game. The Reds lost to the Cubs in extra innings, marking their fourth consecutive loss.

Key points

Emilio Pagán injured his left hamstring
Pagán managed only one pitch before leaving the game
Reds lost to Cubs in extra innings
This marks the Reds' fourth consecutive loss
Pagán joins four other pitchers on the injured list

Mentioned in this story

Emilio PagánWrigley Field

Cincinnati RedsChicago Cubs

CHICAGO – One night after shouldering the blame for a blown save that cost the Cincinnati Reds a heartbreaking loss, closer Emilio Pagán managed just one pitch in the ninth inning May 5 at Wrigley Field, then fell to the grass in pain, clutching his left hamstring.

Pagán, who missed a couple games in mid-April for tightness in the same hamstring, was carted off the field on his way to joining four other key Reds pitchers on the injured list – turning a rainy, ugly, losing road trip into an especially painful one for a team was in first place when they opened the trip Friday in Pittsburgh.

Rookie Jose Franco took over for Pagán in a 2-2 game and 1-0 count on Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, then followed with three straight balls to tag Pagán with the leadoff walk.

May 5, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) hits a single against the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Despite another walk to Reds-killer Ian Happ in the inning, Franco escaped the short-notice jam by retiring $175 million , $85 million and $177 million to nudge the game to extra innings -– where the Reds lost in the 10th on a single bounced up the middle by that shortstop couldn't handle.