Cincinnati Reds fall to the Boston Red Sox 5-3 on July 2, 2025. Despite a go-ahead homer from Spencer Steer, a late rally doomed the Reds. Recap the loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a strange afternoon at Fenway Park, and unfortunately for the Reds, it ended with a frustratingly familiar result. In the conclusion of a game suspended by rain the night before, Cincinnati fell to the Boston Red Sox 5-3, letting a late lead slip away and extending their current slump. Despite a go-ahead blast from Spencer Steer, a tough eighth inning doomed the Reds, leaving them searching for answers before the regularly scheduled nightcap even begins.
TJ Friedl's 117 times on base as a leadoff hitter is second only to Shohei Ohtani in MLB.
The game resumed Wednesday afternoon with a sparse Fenway crowd witnessing the final innings. Things looked promising when Spencer Steer launched a two-run homer in the fourth, putting the Reds ahead 3-2. But the lead wouldn't hold. The Red Sox bullpen, led by five strong relief innings from Brayan Bello, shut the door, and their offense came alive in the eighth. A tiebreaking single from Wilyer Abreu and an insurance RBI double by Trevor Story off Lyon Richardson (0-3) sealed the Reds' fate. Adding a historical footnote, former Red Aroldis Chapman closed it out for his 15th save of the season and the 350th of his career.
Losing three of four is never easy, but it's important to remember the high-end talent driving this team. While the wins haven't piled up this week, Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl continue to build stellar, All-Star worthy seasons. Elly, a 2024 All-Star, is making a strong case for a repeat appearance, currently on pace for a spectacular 30/30 season with 16 homers and 21 steals. Meanwhile, TJ Friedl is having a true breakout year, batting .288 and getting on base at an elite clip. His 117 times on base from the leadoff spot trails only Shohei Ohtani across all of baseball—a testament to his value at the top of the order.
The present might feel a bit rocky, but the future of the organization continues to get exciting validation. The Reds saw two of their top prospects named to the 2025 All-Star Futures Game, a showcase of baseball's best young talent. This recognition is a credit to a farm system ranked 11th in MLB, churning out players like Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder. The talent is also performing on the field, as the Triple-A Louisville Bats and Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts both notched wins on Tuesday, highlighted by Leo Balcazar's eighth home run of the year.
The beauty of baseball is that there's almost always another game right around the corner. The Reds have an immediate chance for redemption in the regularly scheduled nightcap at Fenway. With Nick Martinez getting the ball, the team will look to flush the afternoon's disappointment, get the bats going again like Austin Hays and Matt McLain did in the series opener, and salvage a win in Boston. It's time to turn the page and end the day on a high.
