Great American Ball Park – Cincinnati

The San Diego Padres returned to the Great American Ballpark to play game two against the Cincinnati Reds.

Fresh off a series sweep, Monday night’s game was a real refresher for the entire team. Despite such a crushing series, the Padres are still taking things one game at a time. Such is the case for Samad Taylor, who certainly felt guilty after that loose ball fell out of his glove and tied the final game against the Rays.

Taylor, batting second, wasted no time in his first start since that day. He launched a ball that bounced off the left field wall, getting the offense started with a triple. That’s his third career triple and his second of 2026.

Manny Machado saw the rare opportunity and shot a ball to right, giving him time to tag up and score.

Unlike last game, the ever-aggressive Reds would not back down so easily. They struck back on their next turn, quickly tying the game.

Jase Bowen got the third inning started hot by recording a triple of his own, the first of his career. While the Padres ultimately couldn’t convert on this, it was certainly fun to see.

The last time two Padres hitters recorded a triple was April 17, 2024, in their 1-0 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers. More on that later.

The Padres were certainly hot off their game the previous day, where they blanked the Reds.

Tuesday’s game featured some pretty spectacular performances from the Padres offense. They consistently flooded the bases inning by inning. However, on most of these chances, the Padres couldn’t convert.

Partway through the game, Ethan Salas arrived in Cincinnati to join his fellow Padres after being called up from Triple-A El Paso; some were perhaps confused as to why he wasn’t in the lineup immediately. This is likely the reason why.

We have selected the contract of C Ethan Salas from Triple-A El Paso, recalled RHP Jhony Brito from El Paso, and transferred INF/OF Luis Rengifo to the 60-day IL.

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 1, 2026

Both starters, Randy Vazquez and Nick Lodolo, had very solid starts after getting over their first-inning jitters.

Noticing this, Fernando Tatis Jr. slammed a home run to put the Padres up 2-1. His first following a brief reprieve.

That one got out of here in a hurry. pic.twitter.com/ZIf39OfTul

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 1, 2026

However, just as soon as they took the lead, the Reds tied it up, just like the first inning.

This run in the fifth inning sent Randy Vazquez packing. Lodolo followed soon after, the bullpen handling the latter half of the game.

The game was still at a standstill until the Reds overwhelmed Adrian Morejon, flooding the bases and scoring two runs in the eighth to take the lead. Their first lead of the game so far.

Down to their last three outs, the Padres struggled with the same issues they’d had all game, dropping game two. However, Fernando Tatis Jr. wouldn’t let them go quietly, blasting another homer on two outs. That’s only his second multi-homer game of the year.

For the Padres, their last two games with more than one triple were both losses.

The Padres return Wednesday for the rubber match against the Reds. On the mound for the Padres is Casey Mize (5-8, 3.45 ERA); for the Reds is Brandon Williamson (2-3, 6.11 ERA)

Fabian Garcia