Reds sweep the D-backs in a June 2025 doubleheader, winning 13-1. Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Gavin Lux lead an offensive surge. Are the Reds for real?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when you thought you knew this 2025 Reds team, they pull you back in. A five-game winning streak, capped by a dominant doubleheader sweep of the Diamondbacks on Saturday, has suddenly vaulted Cincinnati to just one game below .500 and into second place in the NL Central. The bats have woken up, the energy is back, and the Reds are playing their best baseball of theseason.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand went 5-for-10 with two home runs and five RBI across the Reds' two wins over the Diamondbacks on Friday and Saturday.
Saturday was a long, but incredibly rewarding, day at the ballpark. The Reds first finished off a suspended game with a gritty 4-3 extra-inning victory, and then followed it up with an absolute demolition, routing Arizona 13-1 in the nightcap. The sweep pushed their record to 32-33 and showed a level of resilience and firepower that's been missing for much of the season.
For weeks, fans have been waiting for this offense to click. After watching key contributors like Spencer Steer and Matt McLain struggle, Saturday's 13-run outburst was a sight for sore eyes. It was a total team effort, with Gavin Lux blasting a grand slam and multi-hit games from Tyler Stephenson and Elly De La Cruz. But no one is hotter than Christian Encarnacion-Strand, who continued his tear with home runs in both games of the doubleheader, including a decisive three-run shot in the first inning of the blowout.
This winning streak isn't just about feeling good; it's had a massive impact on the standings. With five straight wins, the Reds (16-13 in division) have leapfrogged the Milwaukee Brewers and now sit alone in second place in the NL Central. They are now just a single game behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs (17-12), making every game feel that much more important.
While the big-league club is firing on all cylinders, there's more good news coming from the farm. The organization's pitching depth is nearing a breakthrough, with top prospects Chase Burns and Chase Petty reportedly on the cusp of their MLB debuts. Once he's healthy, Rhett Lowder is expected to join that wave of arms. While the next crop of hitters like Sal Stewart and Cam Collier are likely a year away, the imminent arrival of high-octane pitching could provide a significant boost down the stretch.
The Reds have a golden opportunity today to cap off a perfect week. They'll send Brady Singer (6-4, 4.66 ERA) to the mound against Arizona's Zac Gallen, looking to complete the series sweep and finally get back to the .500 mark. Is this five-game heater a fluke, or is this the start of the summer surge we've all been waiting for? Today's finale will be a huge test.
