In a thrilling ninth-inning comeback, Benson and Christian Encarnacion-Strand propelled the Cincinnati Reds to a dramatic 6-5 victory over the Washington Nationals, clinching the series on Sunday.
Trailing 5-3 with two outs, Jonathan India kickstarted the rally with a clutch double off Kyle Finnegan (0-1). Benson wasted no time, smashing a first-pitch splitter to center field, knotting the score. Then, Encarnacion-Strand, amidst a 13-at-bat hit drought, found redemption, smashing an upsplitter 387 feet into the left-field seats.
Reflecting on his game-winning hit, Encarnacion-Strand revealed, “I had an idea, but it wasn’t executing. When I focused on hitting the ball hard, everything clicked for me.”
With their backs against the wall, the Reds fought relentlessly. India’s epic battle with Finnegan, fouling off six pitches before driving a fastball down the left-field line, set the stage for Benson’s heroics. Benson credited India’s at-bat for aiding his timing.
Manager David Bell praised Encarnacion-Strand’s resilience, emphasizing his ability to deliver under pressure. Lucas Sims (1-0) closed out the ninth inning with precision, securing the win.
Nick Martinez made his Reds debut, allowing three runs over five innings, while Jake Fraley contributed with three hits.
Trey Lipscomb’s first major league homer and CJ Abrams’ solo shot bolstered the Nationals’ offense, but it wasn’t enough to withstand the Reds’ late surge. Manager Dave Martinez lamented the tough loss but commended his team’s effort.
On the injury front, LHP Nick Lodolo showed promise in a rehab start at Triple-A Louisville, while the Nationals prepared for a home series against the Pirates and the Reds geared up to face the Phillies in Philadelphia.
