Austin Hays' Two Homers Lead Cincinnati Reds to 8-4 Win Over New York Mets

Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025

In a thrilling MLB contest on Friday, July 18, 2025, the Cincinnati Reds defeated the New York Mets 8-4 at Citi Field, fueled by a powerful offensive display including four home runs. Austin Hays led the charge with two solo blasts, complementing strong pitching from Nick Lodolo.

Matt McLain and Tyler Stephenson also contributed significantly to the Reds' victory, each launching a two-run shot. This marked the third time this season that Cincinnati has hit four home runs in a single game, extending their recent strong performance with five wins in their last six outings.

Reds starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (7-6) delivered a commanding performance, throwing seven strong innings. After surrendering an early first-inning homer to Juan Soto and an RBI single to Jeff McNeil in the second, Lodolo settled in, retiring 16 of the next 18 batters, including a streak of 10 in a row. He concluded his outing with seven strikeouts, matching his longest start of the season.

The Mets initially took an early lead with Juan Soto’s solo home run off Lodolo in the first inning. This game also marked Sean Manaea's first start of the season for New York. The left-hander, who re-signed a three-year deal in the offseason, had missed the first 95 games due to an oblique strain and a bone chip in his pitching elbow, making his return with an extended relief appearance earlier in the week at Kansas City.

Manaea allowed Hays' first home run but otherwise pitched effectively, striking out six over four innings of one-hit ball. He was removed after 69 pitches. Following his departure, Cincinnati's offense exploded for seven runs against a beleaguered Mets bullpen.

Rookie right-hander Alex Carrillo (0-1) struggled in relief, surrendering five runs and three home runs in just 1 1/3 innings, contributing to the Mets' unraveling.

New York attempted a late rally, scoring two runs in the ninth inning, but Emilio Pagán ultimately closed out the game for the Reds by inducing a bases-loaded popup from Francisco Lindor.

Game Highlights

Austin Hays ignited the Reds' offense in the sixth inning with his second home run of the night. After Spencer Steer drew a walk, Tyler Stephenson followed with a decisive two-run shot to left-center field, extending Cincinnati's lead to 6-2.

Key Statistics

Nick Lodolo threw 97 pitches in his outing, maintaining a streak of 24 consecutive starts without reaching 100 pitches, even while ranking among the National League's top 10 in innings pitched. In an unusual display, Cincinnati outfielder TJ Friedl was hit by three pitches from three different Mets pitchers, tying a major league record.

Looking Ahead

The Cincinnati Reds and New York Mets will continue their series on Saturday. The Mets are slated to start right-hander Clay Holmes (8-4, 3.31 ERA), who will face Reds right-hander Nick Martinez (7-9, 4.78 ERA). Prior to the game, the Mets will hold a special pregame ceremony to retire David Wright's No. 5 jersey.

In Summary

The Cincinnati Reds defeated the New York Mets 8-4 on July 18, 2025, powered by four home runs, including two from Austin Hays. Nick Lodolo delivered a strong seven-inning performance for the Reds, while the Mets' bullpen struggled significantly after Sean Manaea's return from injury. Despite a late rally attempt, the Reds secured the win at Citi Field.

Related Links

• Cincinnati Reds News & Updates
• Cincinnati Reds Schedule & Scores
• New York Mets News & Updates
• New York Mets Schedule & Scores
• MLB News