Cincinnati Reds blast past Rays for 6-1 win in series opener

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 20: Sal Stewart #27 of the Cincinnati Reds celebrates with teammate Matt McLain #9 after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on April 20, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images Sal Stewart found himself down 0-2 in his first plate appearance of the game on Monday down in Tampa, the PA coming in the Top of the 1st inning after a rare Matt McLain double. Sal was willing to be patient, though, and he laid off several tempting pitches as he battled his way back to a 3-2 count against Rays starter Jesse Scholtens.

After putting the pressure on the opposing pitcher to have to throw a strike, Sal did not miss. Cincinnati’s star rookie smashed a 2-run homer nearly 430 feet over the wall in centerfield at the Trop, and as it turns out that would be all the runs the Reds would need in their 6-1 series opening win over the Rays. While Sal’s exploits were both immediate and loud, it was the much more gradual work from another highly touted Cincinnati rookie that ended up being just as impressive.

Starter Rhett Lowder loaded the bases and eventually even walked in a run in the Bottom of the 1st as Tampa mounted an immediate response to Sal’s homer, and Lowder looked far from dialed in initially. At the end of the grind, though, he finished with an excellent 6. 0 IP of 5 H, ER, 2 BB, 3 K ball on 93 pitches, keeping Tampa’s hitters off-balance just enough to the offense around him pour it on for the win.

He even got some serious help from the likes of Elly De La Cruz, who made this spectacular defensive play off the bat of Junior Caminero. This ball was hit over 112 mph off the bat! In the end, though, it was definitely another Sal Stewart day, and he’ll take another Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game award home.