Reds Crash the Pope Hat Party: Cincy Erases Three-Run Hole, Steals 5-4 Thriller in 10th

CHICAGO — Forget the holy hats. The Reds came in looking like spoilers, and they left like thieves.

Elly De La Cruz lifted a sacrifice fly to plate automatic runner Matt McLain in the top of the 10th, capping a wild comeback as Cincinnati snapped a three-game skid with a 5-4 victory over the White Sox on Tuesday night — right in the middle of Chicago's Pope Leo XIV hat giveaway extravaganza.

From Dead to Dangerous

The Sox were cruising behind starter Sean Burke, who dealt seven innings of three-hit, one-run ball. But baseball waits for no crowd of 38,113, and the Reds flipped the script in the eighth. Bryan Hudson served up an RBI single to De La Cruz, then Tyler Stephenson unloaded a bases-loaded single off Grant Taylor to knot things up at 4-4.

Sean Newcomb (1-3) couldn't keep it tied, while Brock Burke (5-4) grabbed the win and Emilio Pagan slammed the door with a perfect 10th for his 14th save.

Power Show, Then Silence

The White Sox brought the boom early. Brenton Doyle crushed the first pitch he saw 415 feet for a leadoff homer, and Edgar Quero and Miguel Vargas both went solo deep to back Burke’s dominant night. Eugenio Suarez cranked his 17th homer — his third in four games — to keep the Reds within striking distance.

Munetaka Murakami stretched his on-base streak to 26 games with an eighth-inning double. Meanwhile, Reds starter Nick Lodolo returned from the injured list with rust showing: four runs on five hits in just four innings.

Hat Night, Heartbreak

The papal-style hats? Cool. The ending? Cold. The White Sox dropped to 61-57 despite another packed house, while the Reds improved to 57-61 and reminded everyone they're dangerous when their backs are against the wall.

Up next: Rhett Lowder (4-7, 5.26) vs. Luis Castillo (3-9, 5.30) on Wednesday. Buckle up.