JJ Bleday went 1-for-3 with a homer, two walks, and two runs scored as the Reds fell to the Padres 5-4 on Wednesday.
The homer was his 11th of the year, a solo blast that came with two outs in the seventh inning and the game tied at 2. Cincinnati’s bullpen later blew the lead, setting up a Fernando Tatis Jr. walk-off homer. Bleday has looked like a transformed hitter this season, joining the Reds with significantly increased bat speed. They’re set to head back to hitter-friendly Great American Ballpark for a six-game homestand that begins Friday.