The Cincinnati Reds blew a late lead Monday night against the San Diego Padres in one of the most inexplicably entertaining strings of defensive errors in recent baseball history.
The Reds entered the game against the Padres on a four-game losing streak. Going into the bottom of the seventh inning, they held a 2-1 lead before back-to-back doubles tied the game.
With no outs and a runner on second, the Padres had Jase Bowen lay down a sacrifice bunt. The Reds were unable to field the ball, resulting in an infield single. With runners on first and third and nobody out, the Padres doubled down, laying another sacrifice bunt that once again resulted in an infield single, this time by Samad Taylor. Still with nobody out and runners on first and second, Freddy Fermin dropped down the team’s third straight sacrifice bunt. This time, the official scorers charged the Reds with an error. (Related:How On Earth Is Dream’s Angel Reese In WNBA With This Horrendous Shooting?)
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 08: Freddy Fermin #54 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the third inning at Petco Park on June 08, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
The Padres would not need any more runs and went on to win the game 6-2.
In a world where hitters are prioritizing exit velocity and home runs over contact, seeing this kind of throwback, small-ball baseball brings a smile to many traditionalist fans. Small ball and bunting are slowly making a comeback, as the 2026 season is on pace to have the highest rate of bunt singles since the universal DH was introduced in 2021, according to MLB.
Some players have begun embracing small ball again.
“Hitting a homer or a pitcher striking out a bunch of hitters — it’s cool and very macho and manly and whatever,” said Jonny DeLuca, a Rays right fielder, according to Sports Illustrated. “But I think as baseball players, we know the chess game behind this game, and that’s the fun part — stealing a run by doing a hit-and-run or a double steal. It’s kind of funny how the other teams react.”
Unfortunately for the Reds, they did not react well, dropping to three games under .500 and deepening their divisional hole in a highly competitive NL Central.
The Padres’ offense continues to be a point of concern. Freddy Fermin extended his hitting streak to three consecutive games.