Reds split a doubleheader with the Diamondbacks on June 7, 2025. Christian Encarnacion-Strand homered in his return, but Hunter Greene hit the IL. Recap.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
What a whirlwind 24 hours at Great American Ball Park. Saturday was a day of stark contrasts for the Cincinnati Reds, a dizzying mix of exhilarating highs and gut-punching lows. In his very first game back, Christian Encarnacion-Strand provided a jolt of pure electricity with a game-tying home run. But the celebration was tempered by the tough news that ace Hunter Greene is heading to the injured list, a development that will test the team's pitching depth in the weeks to come.
In his first game back from the injured list, Christian Encarnacion-Strand launched a solo home run, his first since April 5, to tie the game.
After Friday's contest was suspended by rain, the Reds and Diamondbacks buckled in for a marathon day. The resumed game picked up in a 3-3 tie, but Arizona quickly jumped ahead with back-to-back homers. The Reds didn't flinch. TJ Friedl answered with a two-run shot before Christian Encarnacion-Strand, in a storybook moment, blasted a solo shot in the sixth to tie it again. Despite the thrilling comeback, the Reds couldn't push ahead, ultimately falling in the first leg of the doubleheader. The regularly scheduled nightcap saw the Reds bounce back to earn a hard-fought split, a testament to the team's resilience on a long, strange day of baseball.
The biggest blow of the day came off the field, with the announcement that Hunter Greene was being placed on the injured list with a right groin strain. Losing your top-of-the-rotation arm is a challenge for any team, and Greene's velocity and strikeout ability will be sorely missed. To plug the immediate hole, the Reds made a savvy move, signing familiar face and veteran lefty Wade Miley to a major league contract. Miley, known for his craftiness and clubhouse presence, provides a much-needed steadying force for a rotation suddenly in flux.
If you were writing a script for a player's return from the IL, it would look a lot like what Christian Encarnacion-Strand did on Saturday. Activated just before the game, the first baseman stepped up in a huge spot and delivered his first home run since April 5, providing an instant and much-needed offensive boost. His power from the right side has been missing, and his immediate impact shows just how crucial he is to the middle of this Reds lineup. Fans and players alike, including CES himself on social media, were buzzing about the clutch return.
While the big league club was navigating its own drama, the organization also provided a glimpse into the future. The team's weekly farm system report for the week ending June 1 was released, giving fans a detailed look at the top performers in Triple-A Louisville, Double-A Chattanooga, and beyond. It's a great reminder of the talent pipeline and the next wave of players working their way toward Cincinnati.
It was a day that perfectly encapsulated a baseball season: moments of pure elation mixed with frustrating setbacks. As the Reds move forward, they'll need to ride the offensive wave sparked by Encarnacion-Strand's return while navigating the pitching challenges without their ace. The signing of Wade Miley is a steadying move, but the team's depth will be tested. All eyes are now on how this resilient squad responds to the latest turn of the rollercoaster.
