The Cincinnati Reds entered May riding high in sole possession of first place in the National League Central. But just one week into the month, the script has flipped dramatically—the Reds now find themselves in sole possession of last place, six games back. It's a stunning collapse that has left fans and analysts scratching their heads.
The trouble all started at Wrigley Field, where the Reds suffered three straight walk-off, one-run losses to the first-place Chicago Cubs. The series finale on Thursday was supposed to be a chance to salvage some pride. Instead, it turned into a sloppy 8-3 loss, completing a four-game sweep that exposed just how far Cincinnati has fallen.
One play, in particular, summed up the Reds' disastrous series—and their entire week. In the bottom of the fourth inning, with the Cubs leading 2-0 and the bases loaded with no outs, Chicago's Dansby Swanson hit a groundball to Reds third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes. Hayes stepped on third base for a force out, then fired home to catcher Tyler Stephenson. But here's where it all went wrong: because Hayes had already touched third base, the force was removed, making it a tag play at the plate.
Instead of tagging Cubs baserunner Ian Happ, Stephenson simply stepped on home plate, thinking it was still a force out. That blunder allowed a run to score instead of ending the inning with a double play. It was a mistake that would make even a Little Leaguer cringe.
The Reds' broadcast team—play-by-play announcer John Sadak and analyst Chris Welsh—couldn't believe their eyes. As the play unfolded, their stunned commentary captured the disbelief of everyone watching.
"Bounced to third, handled by Hayes," Sadak said on the call. "It's a tag at the plate! He's gotta tag him! He's safe!" He continued, "Hayes hit the bag, and Stephenson didn't realize there was no force at the plate! He stepped on the plate, thinking he could force out Ian Happ! But he scores, because there was a tag play!"
Welsh, a former major-league pitcher, was even more blunt. "Oh! This is a middle school mistake right here. You have to pay attention to what's going on ahead of you. Stephenson did not see the force play at third base. Once Hayes steps on the bag, the force is relieved. You have to tag the runner!" He added, "Oh. Oh my!" in utter disgust.
Maybe Stephenson didn't know the rule. Maybe he just had a mental lapse. Either way, it's the kind of bonehead play that haunts teams in the standings—and for the Reds, it's a painful reminder that even the basics can slip away when you're in a tailspin. For baseball fans, it's a moment that will be replayed and debated for weeks, a cautionary tale about the importance of staying sharp on every single play.