Martini’s 3-point shot, Encarnación-Strand’s RBI single lift Reds 7-6 against Mariners

CINCINNATI (AP) — Nick Martini came off the bench to hit a three-run tying homer in the eighth inning and Christian Encarnación-Strand drove Elly De La Cruz in the ninth and the Cincinnati Reds came from behind for a 7.-6 win over the AL West leaders Seattle Mariners on Tuesday night.

Julio Rodríguez homered twice for the Mariners (77-71), who lost three in a row for the first time since Aug. 12-14.

De La Cruz started the ninth with an infield hit, stole the second, and scored with a head-first slide on the Encarnación-Strand single to the right.

The comeback win was the Reds’ 44th of the season (73-68), leading the major leagues. Alexis Diaz (8-4) pitched the ninth for the win. Andres Munoz (3-7) took the loss.

The Reds overcame four RBIs from Rodríguez and Teoscar Hernández’s two-run homer in the first inning for their fourth victory in their last five games.

Hernández’s home run was his sixth in his last 10 games and extended his season-high hitting streak to 14 games, one shy of Rodríguez’s team’s 15-game hitting streak. who was arrested on Sunday.

Rodríguez’s three-run drive into opposite field against former Seattle prospect Connor Phillips was one of the Mariners’ four hits in the fifth inning and gave them a 5-1 lead. Rodríguez added a solo homer in the seventh.

Seattle entered the game tied with the Astros for first place. The Reds finished third in NL Central behind first-placed Milwaukee and the Cubs.

Mariners rookie Bryce Miller overcame three batters and allowed seven hits to go five innings. He allowed a run and a walk with two strikeouts. He received help from left fielder Dominic Canzone who grabbed De La Cruz’s goal-laden understudy to finish the fifth.

Encarnación-Strand and Noelvi Marte each had solo home runs against Dominic Leone in the sixth. Marte’s was the first of his career.

Phillips allowed six hits and five runs with two walks and seven strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

TRAINERS ROOM

Reds: INF Kevin Newman (left oblique strain) has been sent to Triple-A Louisville on a rehabilitation assignment. … OF Hunter Renfroe was dropped from the original starting lineup with left hamstring strain.

FOLLOWING

Seattle RHP Logan Gilbert (12-5, 3.56 ERA, 162 strikeouts) will face Reds RHP Lyon Richardson (0-1, 6.75 ERA, 9 strikeouts) in the series finale of Wednesday.

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