Reds crush Mets 8-4 on July 19, 2025, as Austin Hays hits two homers and Nick Lodolo dominates. See how Cincinnati's power surge extended their win streak.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The Cincinnati Reds are officially on a roll. Riding a wave of pure power, the team launched four home runs at Citi Field on Saturday, dismantling the New York Mets 8-4 for their fourth consecutive victory. It was a complete team effort, with ace Nick Lodolo delivering a masterful performance on the mound and the offense providing more than enough fireworks to secure the win.
TJ Friedl was hit by a pitch three separate times, tying a major league record for most plunks in a single game.
The Reds' bats were electric, turning a tight game into a rout against the Mets' bullpen. After New York starter Sean Manaea departed, Cincinnati unleashed a torrent of offense. Austin Hays was the star of the show, crushing two solo homers. Not to be outdone, Matt McLain and Tyler Stephenson each launched two-run shots, contributing to the seven runs the Reds piled on New York's relievers. This marked the third time this season the Reds have hit four homers in a single game, a clear sign that this offense can erupt at any moment.
While the offense grabbed headlines, Nick Lodolo was the steady hand guiding the Reds to victory. The lefty was simply brilliant, pitching seven strong innings while allowing just two runs on five hits. He didn't walk a single batter and struck out seven, at one point retiring an incredible 16 of 18 Mets hitters. Matching his longest outing of the year, Lodolo (now 7-6) continues to be a workhorse and one of the most reliable arms in the National League.
In one of the stranger footnotes of the season, outfielder TJ Friedl became a human magnet, getting hit by pitches from three different Mets pitchers. The painful feat tied a long-standing major league record. While certainly not the way anyone wants to get on base, it's a testament to Friedl's grit and willingness to do whatever it takes to help the team win. He literally took one (or three) for the team.
With the win, the Reds improved to 51-47, solidifying their hold on third place in the NL Central. While they're still 7.5 games behind the Cubs, this four-game winning streak (and five of their last six) shows they're not fading away. The energy around the big-league club is matched by the excitement for the future, with a farm system loaded with talent like recent first-round pick Steele Hall and top prospects Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns. The present is fun, and the future looks even brighter.
The Reds have all the momentum as they go for a series sweep against the Mets tomorrow. Another win would cap off a perfect road trip and send a clear message to the rest of the division. With the bats sizzling and the pitching clicking, this is a team no one wants to face right now. Tune in tomorrow to see if they can keep the streak alive!
