A sold-out crowd at Great American Ball Park on Wednesday night saw the Cincinnati Reds continue to struggle to score more runs than their opponent during a 4-2 loss to the Chicago White Sox. It was the White Sox’ first road series win of 2025 and just their sixth road win in 43 games. Meanwhile, the Reds have now lost 11 of their last 15 games. In eight of those 11 losses, the Reds have scored just one run or less.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago White Sox (14-29) |
4 | 10 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Reds (20-24) | 2 | 9 | 0 |
| W: Davis Martin (2-4) L: Nick Lodolo (3-4) SV: Mike Vasil (1) |
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| Box Score | Game Thread | Statcast | |||
The White Sox jumped on the scoreboard first in the second inning when Andrew Vaughn doubled down the left field line to score Luis Robert Jr., after Robert Jr. had reached base on a leadoff single and then promptly stole second earlier in the inning.
It wasn’t Nick Lodolo’s best start of the season, but he kept it close for much of the game. He had a runner on base every inning except the first inning, working his way in and out of trouble all night, including a bases-loaded jam in the third. The White Sox added on to their lead in the fifth when Robert Jr. singled in Chase Meidroth, who had been walked by Lodolo to lead off the inning. Lenyn Sosa homered in the sixth to make it a 3-0 game. Sosa would be Lodolo’s last batter of the game, who left in the sixth having given up three runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts across 5.1 innings. Michael A. Taylor added his second home run of the season in the seventh inning off Scott Barlow to make the score 4-0 at the time.
Meanwhile, the Reds’ offensive woes continued. They had chances to score in the second when Spencer Steer had a one-out double, but he was left stranded there. Matt McLain led off the bottom of the third with a single; however, Rece Hinds, Gavin Lux and Santiago Espinal went quietly in order after that. In the sixth, Gavin Lux led off with a hustle double on a line drive hit sharply to deep right field. However, Espinal, Elly De La Cruz, and Austin Hays went quietly in 1-2-3 order after that. De La Cruz and Hays combined to see just five pitches between the two of them in those at-bats.
Spencer Steer kept the Reds from being shut out with a home run to left field in the seventh. They added another run in the eighth on an Austin Hays double that brought De La Cruz home from second base.
Key Moment of the Game
Lenyn Sosa homered off Nick Lodolo during an eight-pitch at-bat with two outs in the fifth inning to extend the White Sox lead to 3-0. Sosa would end up being Lodolo’s last batter he faced.
Notes Worth Noting
TJ Friedl pinch ran for Jose Trevino in the seventh. This is good news because it means Friedl is indeed available off the bench; however, he did not stay in the game as a defensive replacement. Take that for what it’s worth, which is probably nothing.
Will Benson played some excellent defense in center field, robbing Miguel Vargas twice, once via an over the shoulder catch in front of the Reds bullpen and another on a sliding catch.
The Reds were 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position tonight. Until Hay’s double in the eighth inning, a runner in scoring position had not scored for the Reds since Saturday’s win in Houston.
According to John Sadak on the FanDuel Sports Network broadcast, Sox starter Davis Martin had never recorded an out in the seventh inning in his career. He left the game with two outs in the seventh, the longest outing of his career. Martin threw only 60 pitches through five innings, which really helped his cause.
Up Next
Chicago White Sox vs. Cincinnati Reds
Thursday, May 15th, 12:40 PM EDT
Bryse Wilson (0-1, 4.88 ERA) vs. Nick Martinez (1-4, 4.23 ERA)
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