Party Crashers! Reds Spoil Pope Hat Night With Electric 10th-Inning Comeback

The Cincinnati Reds rolled into Chicago on pope hat giveaway night and played the ultimate party crasher. Down three in the eighth, they stormed back and stole a 5-4 win in 10 innings — snapping a three-game skid and silencing a sellout crowd of 38,113.

Late-Inning Magic

With the automatic runner parked at second in the top of the 10th, Elly De La Cruz lifted a sacrifice fly to bring home Matt McLain — the go-ahead run that made the difference. It was the kind of gritty, never-say-die rally that had been missing during the Reds' losing streak.

Down 4-1 entering the eighth, the Reds flipped the script. Bryan Hudson served up an RBI single to De La Cruz, and then Tyler Stephenson unloaded a bases-loaded single off Grant Taylor to tie the game at 4. Suddenly, the White Sox' giveaway night had a very different vibe.

Pitching, Pope Hats, and Power

White Sox starter Sean Burke was dealing — seven innings, only three hits, one run allowed — but the bullpen couldn't hold it. Sean Newcomb (1-3) took the loss. Brock Burke (5-4) got the win, and Emilio Pagan slammed the door with a perfect 10th for his 14th save.

The evening wasn't all heartbreak for the South Side. The crowd showed up in force for the unique papal-style hat giveaway honoring Pope Leo XIV — a lifelong White Sox fan who attended Game 1 of the 2005 World Series as Father Robert Prevost. Sister Mary Jo Sobieck threw out the first pitch, adding to the surreal atmosphere.

On the field, Brenton Doyle jumped on the very first pitch from Nick Lodolo and sent it 415 feet to deep center — his fourth career leadoff homer and the White Sox' sixth this season. Edgar Quero and Miguel Vargas also went deep for Chicago.

Lodolo, fresh off the injured list (blister) for his first start since July 11, labored through four innings, giving up four runs on five hits. But his teammates picked him up.

Also worth noting: Muneteka Murakami pushed his on-base streak to 26 games with a double in the eighth, and Eugenio Suarez kept mashing, hitting his 17th homer — his third in four games.

What's Next

The Reds and White Sox run it back Wednesday. Rhett Lowder (4-7, 5.26 ERA) faces Luis Castillo (3-9, 5.30). If Tuesday taught us anything, buckle up.