Reds Rally Late to Defeat Twins in Comeback Victory

Cincinnati's bullpen shines as the team battles back for a hard-fought win.

Apr. 18, 2026 at 9:34pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game in progress, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in the team colors of the Reds and Twins.The Reds' gritty comeback victory over the Twins showcases the team's resilience and the strength of their bullpen.Cincinnati Today

The Cincinnati Reds overcame an early deficit to defeat the Minnesota Twins 5-4 on Saturday. Despite a shaky outing from starter Andrew Abbott, the Reds' bullpen delivered a dominant performance, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out nine over 4.1 innings. The Reds rallied with runs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings to complete the comeback, capped by Dane Myers' game-winning RBI single in the final frame.

Why it matters

The Reds' ability to grind out close victories, even when their starting pitcher struggles, demonstrates the team's resilience and the strength of their bullpen. This win keeps the Reds undefeated (10-0) in games decided by two runs or less, showcasing their ability to win tight ballgames.

The details

Reds starter Andrew Abbott was chased after 4.2 innings, having allowed four runs on six hits and three walks. However, the Reds' bullpen stepped up, with Sam Moll, Pierce Johnson, Brock Burke, Kyle Nicolas, and Tony Santillan combining for 4.1 scoreless innings to keep the team in the game. Offensively, the Reds rallied with RBI from Tyler Stephenson, Elly De La Cruz, Rece Hinds, and Dane Myers to overcome the early deficit.

  • The Reds were down 2-0 after the first inning.
  • Stephenson drove in Sal Stewart with a sacrifice fly in the second inning to make it 2-1.
  • The Twins added a run in the third, but the Reds responded an inning later when Stephenson drove in Eugenio Suárez with an RBI single to make it 3-2.
  • In the seventh inning, De La Cruz singled to score Hinds.
  • In the eighth inning, Hinds drove in Suárez with a sacrifice fly.
  • In the ninth, Myers drove in Spencer Steer on a bloop single to take the lead.

The players

Andrew Abbott

The Reds' starting pitcher, who struggled but kept the team in the game, allowing four runs over 4.2 innings.

Tyler Stephenson

The Reds' catcher, who drove in two runs with a sacrifice fly and an RBI single to keep the team within striking distance.

Dane Myers

The Reds' outfielder, who delivered the game-winning RBI single in the ninth inning to complete the comeback.

Tony Santillan

The Reds' closer, who pitched a perfect ninth inning to secure the victory.

Terry Francona

The Reds' manager, who effectively managed the bullpen to keep the team in the game and set up the late-inning heroics.

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What they’re saying

“We didn't have our best stuff today, but the guys never gave up. That's the kind of team we have - they're going to fight until the final out.”

— Terry Francona, Reds Manager

What’s next

The Reds will look to complete the series sweep against the Twins on Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 PM local time.

The takeaway

The Reds' ability to rally late and secure a victory, even when their starting pitcher struggles, demonstrates the team's resilience and the depth of their bullpen. This win keeps the Reds undefeated in close games, a testament to their mental toughness and clutch performance.