– The Cincinnati Reds are storming toward the postseason with momentum, swagger, and a promise from one of their most trusted veterans: the best is yet to come.
Gavin Lux once again delivered under the California lights, blasting a two-run homer in the first inning and adding another hit to fuel the Reds’ 4-1 victory Monday night. Brady Singer handled business on the mound with six innings of one-run ball, while Scott Barlow closed it out in dominant fashion with four strikeouts for his first save.
The win stretched Cincinnati’s streak to nine straight against AL competition, tightening the Wild Card race where they now sit just one game behind the Mets for the final playoff spot. For fans, it’s more than just a win streak — it’s a season that feels alive with possibility.
Lux, now hitting an astonishing .419 (13-for-31) since Aug. 7, credited the team’s focus. “We’re locked in. I just want to give everything I can to this group,” he said. “The postseason is right there in front of us, and I promise the fans I’ll keep giving them my very best.”
The Reds’ lineup showed its depth with Elly De La Cruz ripping a triple and scoring on Austin Hays’ sac fly, and Ke’Bryan Hayes adding another triple in the eighth to set up Matt McLain’s RBI. Meanwhile, the defense sparkled behind Singer, and the bullpen shut the door without hesitation.
For manager Terry Francona, the message remains clear: keep eyes on today, not tomorrow. “It doesn’t help us to look three weeks ahead,” he said. “Right now, it’s about taking care of business game by game.”
The Reds face a gauntlet of contenders in the coming weeks — including the Dodgers, Padres, Cubs, Mets, and Brewers — but with their veterans locked in, their young stars stepping up, and the energy of a fan base buzzing louder every night, Cincinnati’s October dream feels closer than ever.
“This is what makes baseball fun,” Singer said. “We’re not just playing games; we’re playing for something big. And the fans can feel it too.”
