The Cincinnati Reds played one of their most complete games in 2026 on Thursday afternoon. Chase Burns struck out seven batters in six shutout innings. The defense made several outstanding defensive plays. And the offense went nuclear with JJ Bleday leading the way with two home runs and six runs batted in as Cincinnati picked up a 15-1 win to avoid being swept by the Washington Nationals in their 3-game series.
The Cincinnati Reds struck first on Thursday afternoon. After Spencer Steer led off the bottom of the 2nd inning with a single it was Matt McLain starting the scoring with a 2-run home run to center. In the next half inning Chase Burns found himself in trouble after giving up a 1-out double, but it was Steer to the rescue as he made an inning ending sliding catch right at the line to save a run and end the top of the 3rd.
Things started going well again for Cincinnati in the bottom of the 4th inning with one out. Once again it was Steer getting things started with a single. Blake Dunn and Matt McLain both drew 2-out walks to load the bases. Jose Trevino then singled into center to bring in two runs. Ke’Bryan Hayes then lined a double into the left field corner to push two more runs across the plate and make it a 6-0 game.
The home team went back to work in the bottom of the 5th inning. Elly De La Cruz lined a double to the left field fence to start the inning. Spencer Steer would walk with one out, and then JJ Bleday turned on an 88 MPH cutter and hit it deep into the seats in right field for a 3-run home run to push the lead to 9-0.
Chase Burns had been cruising through the Nationals lineup most of the day, but he found himself in a little bit of trouble in the top of the 6th inning when he gave up a 1-out double and then issued a 2-out walk as his pitch count rose to 92 on the afternoon. Burns fell behind 2-0 to Jacob Young and then got a mound visit from pitching coach Derek Johnson. His next pitch was a 95 MPH fastball that Young his into left-center, but Dane Myers made a diving catch to end the threat and keep the shutout alive.
In the bottom of the 7th inning Elly De La Cruz picked up his second hit of the day on a single the other way into left field. He came around to score when JJ Bleday hit a 2-run home run into the first row of seats in right field – his second homer of the day – as Cincinnati extended their lead to 11-0.
Washington would get on the board in the 8th inning. Luis Mey would give up a single and then a 1-out walk. With runners on the corners and two outs he fired a wild pitch that brought in the Nationals first run of the day before Mey would pick up a strikeout to end the top of the frame.
Down by 10 runs the Washington sent outfielder Joey Wiemer to the mound to save their bullpen from having to use a pitcher in a game with almost no chance of winning. Matt McLain and Ke’Bryan Hayes picked up singles before Dane Myers crushed a 3-run home run on the first pitch he saw. Another run would come in when the right fielder completely misread the ball and couldn’t recover in time as JJ Bleday picked up another RBI to make it 15-1. Connor Phillips came out and pitched a 1-2-3 9th to end the game as the Reds were able to avoid being swept at home for the first time since 2024.
Key Moment of the Game
The rally in the 4th inning that turned a 2-0 game into a 6-0 game.
Notes Worth Noting
JJ Bleday has been hitting well since joining the Reds but his 3-hit day in this one pushed his line to .321/.455/.755 with more walks (13) than strikeouts (10) in his first 16 games with the club.
Elly De La Cruz has had multiple hits in six straight games. He, along with Spencer Steer, Matt McLain, and Ke’Bryan Hayes all had two hits on the day.
It seems like it should be impossible, but Ke’Bryan Hayes drove in more runners on his double in the 4th inning that weren’t himself than he had in the rest of the season combined. Hayes entered the day with three runs batted in on the day, but he had homered twice – meaning only one of his three runs batted in were him pushing a teammate across the plate.
Chase Burns lowered his ERA to 1.87 on the season through his first nine starts. He picked up the win on the day and is now 5-1 with 53.0 innings pitched, 35 hits allowed, 18 walks, and 55 strikeouts on the year.
Foster Griffin entered the day having made eight starts and he had allowed just 11 earned runs. Cincinnati dropped nine earned runs on that line in this game and his ERA went from 2.12 to 3.53 during the game.
P.J. Higgins has cleared waivers after the Reds designated him for assignment yesterday when they signed Chris Paddack and needed a spot on the 40-man roster. Cincinnati outrighted him to Triple-A. Higgins has been outrighted previously in his career so he has the choice to refuse the outright and become a free agent if he would like to take that option. Update: Higgins accepted his assignment and is back with Louisville.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Cleveland Guardians
Friday May 15th, 7:10pm ET
Andrew Abbott (2-2, 4.47 ERA) vs Tanner Bibee (0-5, 4.17 ERA)