Reds Beat Rangers 5-3 in Road Opener with 3 Homers

Cincinnati's Tyler Stephenson hits go-ahead two-run homer in the 9th inning to spoil Texas' home opener.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 11:33pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in bold colors depicting various baseball actions and players in an abstract, cubist style.The Reds' late-inning heroics against the Rangers showcase the dynamic, multi-faceted nature of baseball in a deconstructed cubist style.Arlington Today

The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Texas Rangers 5-3 in their first road game of the season, powered by three home runs including a go-ahead two-run shot from Tyler Stephenson in the 9th inning. Spencer Steer and Elly De La Cruz also homered for the Reds, while Texas starter MacKenzie Gore struck out 9 in his home debut.

Why it matters

The Reds' road win over the Rangers in their home opener is an early-season statement, showing Cincinnati's offensive firepower and ability to win close games away from home. For Texas, the loss spoils the debut of new manager Skip Schumaker and raises questions about their pitching staff's ability to hold late leads.

The details

The Reds jumped out to a 2-0 lead on homers by Steer and De La Cruz off Rangers starter MacKenzie Gore, who struck out 9 in 6 innings. Texas tied it at 2-2 in the 2nd, then took a 3-2 lead in the 7th before Cincinnati rallied in the 9th. Stephenson's go-ahead two-run shot off reliever Chris Martin proved to be the difference.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • Stephenson's go-ahead homer came in the 9th inning.
  • This was the Reds' first road game of the 2026 season.

The players

Tyler Stephenson

Cincinnati Reds catcher who hit the go-ahead two-run homer in the 9th inning.

Spencer Steer

Cincinnati Reds infielder who hit a two-run homer in the 2nd inning.

Elly De La Cruz

Cincinnati Reds outfielder who hit a solo homer in the 6th inning.

MacKenzie Gore

Texas Rangers starting pitcher who struck out 9 batters over 6 innings in his home debut.

Skip Schumaker

First-year Texas Rangers manager making his home debut.

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What they’re saying

“This was a big win for us on the road to start the season. The guys really battled and came through in the clutch.”

— David Bell, Cincinnati Reds Manager

What’s next

The Reds and Rangers will continue their series on Saturday, with Cincinnati's Rhett Lowder making his second start of the season and Texas' Kumar Rocker making his season debut.

The takeaway

The Reds' ability to rally late and win a close road game against a tough opponent like the Rangers is an encouraging sign for Cincinnati's playoff hopes, while Texas will need to shore up its bullpen if they want to contend in the AL West.