Cincinnati Reds offense catches fire against A's, extends winning streak to 4 games

OAKLAND – If there was a play that signified how the Cincinnati Reds wanted to take advantage of the large outfield at the Oakland Coliseum, it was Tyler Stephenson, of all people, sprinting to second base on a line drive to center field.

Oakland Athletics center fielder Esteury Ruiz fielded the ball on one hop to his right, showing his speed to keep it from rolling past him in the gap, but Stephenson never hesitated as he rounded first base. Ruiz’s throw was off target and Stephenson slid into the bag safely.

The Reds turned Stephenson’s one-out double into a three-run inning, which played a large role in the Reds’ 11-7 victory to begin the three-game weekend series and extend their winning streak to four games. All nine Reds starters reached base at least once, totaling 16 hits, and they produced their highest run output in a game this season.

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It was a night where the Reds didn’t make a ton of hard contact – Stephenson’s double left his bat at 111 mph, a career high exit velocity – but they struck out only four times and sprayed the ball all over the field.

Jake Fraley, who crushed a two-run homer to dead center in the third inning, was hit by a pitch following Stephenson’s seventh-inning double. Two batters later, Nick Senzel cleared the bases with a double down the left field line. Senzel scored on a single.

The Reds had a stretch in the second inning where the bottom five batters in their order delivered five hits in a row against A’s starting pitcher Drew Rucinski, who was making his first MLB appearance since 2018. Jose Barrero hit a two-run double to highlight the rally, but the hardest hit ball came from Jonathan India on a groundout.

Spencer Steer was the only Reds starter who didn’t record a hit. The other eight players totaled at least two hits, the first time they've had eight players with two hits in a game since Aug. 3, 2007.

Takeaways from the Reds’ series opener against the A’s