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Things are going from bad to worse for the Cincinnati Reds.
After starting 20-11 for first place in the NL Central, the Reds have since gone winless in May, including three straight losses to division rival the Chicago Cubs to fall to last place.
Well, the Reds and Cubs were back at Wrigley for an afternoon game Thursday when a Reds player had a total brainstorm.
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Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs scores a run off Tyler Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois on May 7, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Trailing 2-0 with the bases loaded and no one out in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Reds had a gift when Dansby Swanson hit a grounder to third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.
Hayes touched third base for the first out of the inning, then fired home for the double play, and the throw beat Ian Happ by a mile. However, Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson never touched Happ, instead catching the ball while he was at the plate.
Once Hayes touched third base, it took the force away from home, meaning Happ now had to be hit. Instead, he went untouched and raced to the dugout with the Cubs leading, 3-0.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ is safely at home plate as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson stands nearby during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois on May 7, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
REDS CLOSER OFF THE FIELD AFTER SUFFERING LEG INJURY JUST A STEP INTO APPEARANCE
Stephenson apparently forgot this rule, but not the Reds broadcasters.
“It’s a game of tag! He has to tag him!” » said John Sadak.
“No! No!” » said Chris Welsh.
“Oh, that’s a college mistake here.”
Chicago then scored four more runs in the inning en route to an 8-3 victory and a four-game sweep over the Reds, who have now lost seven straight.
The Reds recently tied an MLB record by walking seven straight Pittsburgh Pirates last week, so it’s been quite a whirlwind for Cincinnati.
Michael Conforto celebrates the Chicago Cubs’ victory against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois on May 7, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
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The winless road trip is over, however, and the Reds will host the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals in their next six games to try to get back on track.
