CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds kicked off their series against the St. Louis Cardinals with a 3-1 win on April 28, 2025, at Great American Ball Park, leaning on a stellar outing from pitcher Nick Martinez and some clutch defensive plays. The game, broadcast on MLB on FOX, showcased a Reds squad that’s scrappy and opportunistic, while the Cardinals struggled to find their spark after an early flicker of hope.
St. Louis struck first in the opening inning. Nolan Arenado, the Cardinals’ veteran slugger, laced a double to drive in Lars Nootbaar, giving the visitors a quick 1-0 lead. But that was the last time the Cardinals’ bats made any real noise. Martinez, the Reds’ starter, settled in like a man on a mission, tossing six innings of one-run ball, scattering just a handful of hits while striking out four. His command was surgical, and the Cardinals’ lineup, usually a tough out, looked flat-footed against his mix of fastballs and sliders.
The Reds didn’t waste time responding. In the bottom of the first, they scratched across a run to tie it up, capitalizing on a shaky start from St. Louis pitcher Andre Pallante. By the sixth inning, Cincinnati had pushed ahead, thanks to a Gavin Lux double that plated Austin Hays, making it 3-1. Pallante battled, going six innings himself and giving up three runs on six hits, but the Reds’ timely hitting and airtight defense kept him from escaping the jam.
A pivotal moment came in the fifth, when the Cardinals threatened to claw back. With runners on first and second and nobody out, St. Louis tried to bunt their way into a rally. Reds catcher Jose Trevino had other ideas, pouncing on the bunt and firing to third for a force-out that sucked the air out of the inning. Then, second baseman Matt McLain turned a slick double play to end the threat, leaving Cardinals fans groaning and Reds supporters roaring. That sequence was the gut-punch St. Louis couldn’t recover from.
Cincinnati’s bullpen took it from there, slamming the door with three hitless innings. Emilio Pagan sealed the deal, earning his eighth save of the season by mowing down the Cardinals in the ninth. St. Louis managed just three hits after the first inning, a far cry from their recent walk-off heroics against other opponents.
The Reds’ win improved their record to 12-14, while the Cardinals dropped to 15-11. Martinez earned the victory, moving to 1-3, and Pallante took the loss, falling to 2-2. The series continues on April 29, with first pitch slated for 6:40 p.m. ET.