​Hunter Greene spent more than three months on the injured list after undergoing surgery in March to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. When he finally returned for his season debut last weekend, it’s fair to say things didn’t go smoothly. Yet on Friday, the Reds officially welcomed back their ace.
Greene delivered in a big way in the series opener at Great American Ball Park, fanning 12 while working seven scoreless innings. He allowed only three hits and a single walk, repeatedly reaching triple digits on the radar gun on a hot summer night in Cincinnati. From the moment he took the mound, it was clear he was back to being one of the elite pitchers in the game, showing the kind of velocity, command, and late-inning presence that had scouts and fans buzzing again.
If Greene can replicate this level of performance for the rest of the season, the Reds have a real shot at climbing back into contention. The lineup did its part as well. Elly De La Cruz delivered another power display from the right side, belting a home run and showcasing his growing ability to contribute in multiple ways. Sal Stewart joined the party with a pair of hits, driving in a run, and JJ Bleday delivered a crucial blow with a two-run homer off Jake Woodford in the eighth inning to cap a convincing 4-0 victory in the opener of Cincinnati’s final series before the All-Star break. De La Cruz also added a triple, and Stewart drove him in with a sacrifice fly, contributing to what many viewed as a formidable offensive display from a lineup that continues to show depth and resilience.
This win marked Cincinnati’s first victory against the Cubs this season after dropping the previous four meetings with their division rival. Emilio Pagan closed things out with a rare stress-free save, preserving the shutout and providing a clean ending to a dominant performance on the mound.
Looking ahead, Nick Lodolo will attempt to push the Reds to another victory on Saturday when he faces right-hander Javier Assad. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM ET, and once again Cincinnati will try to ride the momentum of Greene’s return and the rest of the lineup’s improvements into another strong showing. If the pitching staff can sustain this level of performance and the offense can keep producing in this fashion, the Reds could find themselves in a more favorable position as they head into the second half of the season.