Home / MLB / Reds Fans Stunned: Extra-Innings Meltdown EXPOSES $100M Mistake After Tyler Stephenson Injury

Reds Fans Stunned: Extra-Innings Meltdown EXPOSES $100M Mistake After Tyler Stephenson Injury

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The Cincinnati Reds suffered another crushing defeat, and to make matters worse, the New York Mets gained ground in the race for the final NL Wild Card spot. Cincinnati fell 6-5 in extra innings to the Arizona Diamondbacks, with Tyler Stephenson’s absence keenly felt.

Reds minor-league lineup change sparks growing injury concerns for Tyler  Stephenson

Stephenson had already missed the first two games of the Reds’ road trip due to a thumb injury, and before the series finale against the Los Angeles Angels, he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured thumb.

Reds news: Cincinnati makes unfortunate IL move amid playoff push

His presence could have made a difference late in Friday’s game against Arizona. In the top of the 10th, after Jose Trevino reached on a throwing error, Ke’Bryan Hayes scored from second to give the Reds a 5-4 lead.

Reds collapse in extras vs. D-backs highlights brutal cost of Tyler  Stephenson injury

Reds collapse in extras vs. D-backs highlights brutal cost of Tyler Stephenson injury

Trevino moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Matt McLain, leaving the Reds with another runner just 90 feet from scoring. But when TJ Friedl hit a fly ball to right, D-backs outfielder Corbin Carroll delivered a perfect throw to the plate, doubling up Trevino and limiting Cincinnati’s lead to one run. Arizona then scored in the bottom of the 10th and walked it off in the 11th.

Cincinnati Reds summon catcher Tyler Stephenson to big leagues | MiLB.com

Questions arose over why Reds manager Terry Francona didn’t send a pinch-runner for Trevino, the team’s slowest runner. Francona explained after the game, “I was fighting myself — do we run for Trevino? I didn’t think it was fair to (Will Banfield) in the 10th with a ghost runner on second trying to catch (Graham) Ashcraft. I was fighting that one.”

Banfield, called up earlier this week, has yet to make his MLB debut. That scenario would have been a dramatic first appearance, but it’s the kind of situation any 26-man roster player might face. Had Stephenson been available, Francona likely would have used Will Benson to pinch-run, potentially giving the Reds a two-run cushion heading into the bottom of the 10th.

Reds place C Tyler Stephenson (thumb) on 10-day injured list | Reuters

While Francona’s reasoning makes sense, the inability to trust a player in a key moment highlights a roster issue. The Reds’ front office may need to act quickly, possibly searching the waiver wire for a reliable backup catcher. Missteps like this can’t happen again.

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