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Things are going from bad to worse for the Cincinnati Reds.
After starting 20-11 for first place in the NL Central, the Reds have since gone winless in May, including three consecutive walk-off losses to their division rival Chicago Cubs to drop to last place.
Well, the Reds and Cubs were back at Wrigley for an afternoon contest on Thursday when a Reds player had a total brain fart.
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Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs scores a run past Tyler Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois on May 7, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Down 2-0 with the bases loaded and nobody out in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Reds got a gift when Dansby Swanson hit a grounder to third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.
Hayes touched third base for the first out of the inning and then fired home for the double play, the throw beating Ian Happ by a mile. However, Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson never tagged Happ, instead catching the ball while he was at the plate.
When Hayes touched third base, it removed the force at home, meaning Happ now had to be tagged out. Instead, he was untouched and ran back into the dugout with the Cubs up, 3-0.
Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ is safe at home plate as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson stands nearby during the fourth inning at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, May 7, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
RED CLOSER DRIVEN OFF THE FIELD AFTER SUSTAINED LEG INJURY ONLY A QUIET FOR APPEARANCE
Stephenson apparently forgot that rule, but the red broadcasters did not.
“It’s a tag game! He needs to tag him!” John Sadak said.
“No! No!” Chris Welsh said.
“Oh, it’s a middle school mistake right here.”
Chicago then scored four more runs in the inning en route to an 8-3 victory and a four-game sweep of the Reds, who have now lost seven straight.
The Reds recently ended an MLB record by walking seven consecutive Pittsburgh Pirates last week, so it’s been quite a whirlwind for Cincinnati.
Michael Conforto celebrates the Chicago Cubs’ victory against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois on May 7, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)
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However, the winless road trip is over and the Reds will host the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals over their next six games to try to get back on track.
