CINCINNATI – The Reds notched their first win of 2026 but needed extra innings to get it. A Dane Myers RBI single in the bottom of the 11th inning gave them a 6-5 victory over the Red Sox on Saturday at Great American Ball Park.
Leading off the bottom of the 11th vs. Red Sox reliever Justin Slaten, Matt McLain reached for the fifth time in the game with a walk. That set up Myers, who entered the game for defense in the ninth inning and lined a single into left field to score automatic runner TJ Friedl. It was Myers’ third walk-off hit of his career.
Holding a 5-4 lead, the Reds were one out away from a win in the top of the ninth inning when closer Emilio Pagán -- attempting a four-out save -- surrendered a game-tying home run into the right field bullpen by Wilyer Abreu.
Reliever Connor Phillips picked up Pagán with perfect 10th and 11th innings while notching two strikeouts. In an anomaly, Phillips only faced five batters because Trevor Story's lineout to second base in the 11th resulted in a double play for the automatic runner.