Reds Start Strong but Mariners Rally Late
What a rollercoaster of a game, folks!
Our Cincinnati Reds may have had quite the spirited start, but the Seattle Mariners came in hot in the later innings to clinch this one with a final score of 14-8. If you were tuning in, you know there were moments that had us Reds fans on the edge of our seats, fists pumping with excitement, and yes, a few groans too as the game slipped away.Explosive Second Inning
After a quiet start in the first inning, our bats truly woke up in the second! JJ Bleday doubled to center, bringing home Jose Trevino and Ke'Bryan Hayes, injecting some adrenaline into Great American Ball Park. Then, TJ Friedl and Matt McLain added more fuel to the fire, each contributing to build our lead to 5-1 by the end of the frame. It was pure magic out there!
Middle Game Dominance
We carried our momentum into the fourth with Elly De La Cruz doubling in two more runs, making it an 8-2 game and looking like it might be our night. However, the Mariners had a chip on their shoulder, working the counts and battling their way back into contention bit by bit. It was a display of resilience on their part that, I must admit, was a little nerve-wracking for us fans.Unexpected Final Push
Heading into the ninth inning tied at 8 after their steady climb, anticipation was palpable. But unfortunately, the game slipped from our grasp. The Mariners posted a massive six-run inning, underscored by Brennen Davis's towering home run. Our bullpen just couldn't keep the lid on their offense, which was hard to watch. In the bottom of the ninth, we couldn't muster up the comeback needed, sealing the Mariner's victory.Onward Reds!
While it wasn't the result we hoped for, this matchup showed the flashes of excellence our boys can produce.
Let's keep our heads up, Reds fans! The season is long, and we've got a lot more chances to show what Cincinnati is made of. Onward and upward—can't wait for the next game! 
Scoreboard for Mariners @ Reds (February 22nd, 2026)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 12 | 0 |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 14 | 17 | 0 |