Sal Stewart's 11th Inning Shot Crushed the Padres and Their Home Woes Are REAL

Did you SEE that? What a wild ride in San Diego last night! Just when it felt like the Cincinnati Reds were totally dead in the water, a rookie, Sal Stewart, stepped up and absolutely launched a two-run bomb in the top of the 11th inning. That wasn't just a homer, folks, that was a statement. The Reds grabbed a much-needed 5-3 road victory over the San Diego Padres, snapping a brutal five-game losing skid. Meanwhile, the Padres are staring down a serious crisis, and their home field advantage? Gone. Vanished.

Stewart: Rookie Making Noise, Bullpen Steps Up

Sal Stewart, the 22-year-old first baseman, isn't just hitting dingers for fun. This kid is legit. After admitting Monday's five-game losing streak felt like "treading in quicksand," he became the guy to pull them out. His 13th homer, that clutch 11th-inning shot, was HUGE. He's batting .254 with 42 RBIs, and you gotta think National League Rookie of the Year talks are heating up for him. Reds starter Chase Burns didn't mince words, saying, "He's the best, and he knows it." And honestly, after that, who can argue? The Reds didn't just win on Stewart's bat. Zach Maxwell came in and shut down the Padres 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 11th, securing his first major league save. What's even wilder, manager Terry Francona said starter Nick Lodolo, who just pitched Saturday, volunteered to hit the bullpen to help out. That's team-first stuff right there! And it paid off, because the bullpen, which had been struggling for several weeks, was absolutely money, allowing just one run over 5 2/3 innings and escaping jam after jam. This Reds team showed some serious fight!

Padres' Offense Is a No-Show, Home Field Is a Nightmare

While the Reds were battling, the Padres were, well, they were collapsing. This wasn't a fluke loss, it was a continuation of a terrible trend: they're 2-8 in their last 10 games. Tuesday night was a masterclass in leaving runners stranded, going an abysmal 3-for-20 with runners in scoring position and leaving a staggering 13 guys on base. Remember the ninth inning? Bases loaded, nobody out, Manny Machado and Gavin Sheets both strike out to force extras. Talk about a gut punch. And in the sixth, with one out and the bases juiced, Freddy Fermin, who homered in the three previous games, hit into a rally-killing 3-2-3 double play. Ouch. Manager Craig Stammen summed it up, saying, "We could have won that one, but we didn't get the job done. We're obviously pressing in that situation." You can see it, too. This team is pressing, and the numbers don't lie. They're now 18-19 at home this season. Think about that: last year, they were a dominant 52-29 in their own ballpark. That's a massive shift, and it tells you everything you need to know about where this team is at right now.

What's Next: Can the Reds Seal the Deal?

The Reds will go for the series win Wednesday afternoon, aiming to end this tough road trip on a high note. They'll send Brady Singer to the mound, who's got a 2-6 record with a 5.89 ERA. He's been "getting kicked in the teeth," as he put it, recently taking a 10-3 defeat last Friday in St. Louis. He'll need length. Opposing him for San Diego is Michael King, who's 4-5 with a 3.41 ERA. King is also looking to bounce back after a 5-0 loss to the Mets on Friday, and he's dropped his last three starts since a seven-inning shutout back in May. The Padres are desperate to turn things around at home, but after Tuesday's choke, you gotta wonder if they even know how. This series finale is gonna be a must-watch!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.