How a marathon Spencer Steer at-bat saved the Reds against the Dodgers

If the Cincinnati Reds go on to make the playoffs or accomplish anything of note in 2025, they might point back to Spencer Steer's eighth inning at-bat in the 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers July 30 as the reason they achieved it.

With the Reds in desperate need of avoiding a sweep and the game tied at two, Steer went to work on a two-out at-bat that ran the count full and ended up lasting 11 pitches against Emmet Sheehan. With two runners aboard, Steer even saw a pop-up in foul territory dropped by left fielder Andy Pages to keep him alive before he eventually drove a ball to deep center.

Center fielder James Outman climbed the wall in center and prevented a three-run homer by Steer, knocking the ball down and nearly catching it. Outman crashed to the base of the wall with the ball.

In the meantime, Austin Hays and Tyler Stephenson came around to score for a 4-2 Cincinnati lead. Steer ended up at third base with a triple, and he would score for a 5-2 lead when Will Benson singled into right field in the next at-bat.

Tony Santillan entered the game and shut the door on L.A. as the Reds won, 5-2, at Great American Ball Park, salvaging a victory that prevented them from dropping to four games back in the National League Wild Card race.

The Reds kept alive their season-long streak of not being swept. July 30 was the sixth time the Reds used a series finale to avoid a sweep. The win also capped a busy day at the ballpark as the Reds joined in on the trading frenzy ahead of the July 31 trade deadline at 6 p.m.

The Reds struck first offensively. Ohtani allowed a leadoff double to former Dodgers teammate Gavin Lux, who was later driven in on an RBI single by Elly De La Cruz. 

Freddie Freeman put the Dodgers in front and in line for the sweep with a two-run homer to right-center field in the top of the fourth inning. 

The bottom half of the fourth changed the course of the game and made international news. 

After Ohtani threw six straight balls including two wild pitches, a mound visit involving Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and trainers resulted in Ohtani being lifted from his seventh start of 2025. 

Ohtani remained in the game as L.A.'s designated hitter but considering the news of his exit was already rippling across oceans. Bear in mind Ohtani didn't pitch at all in 2024 following elbow surgery. 

Anthony Banda took over for Ohtani on the mound mid-at-bat versus Spencer Steer and walked him. The walk was charged to Ohtani. 

Ohtani was also charged with Noelvi Marte's game-tying run on a Will Benson sacrifice. Branda managed to limit the damage to a game-tying run, though. 

Ohtani ended the night with two runs allowed on five hits, two walks and four strikeouts.  

The Reds will turn the page for their three-game series against the Atlanta Braves. Officially, the Reds will host all three games but only the first two will be played at Great American Ball Park (July 31 and Aug. 1). The series finale - the inaugural Speedway Classic at Bristol Motor Speedway - is scheduled for Saturday (7:15 p.m. ET). 

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: How a marathon Spencer Steer at-bat saved the Reds against the Dodgers