Hays hits 2 homers and Reds go deep 4 times to back Lodolo in 8-4 win over Mets

NEW YORK (AP) — Austin Hays hit two of Cincinnati's four home runs and Nick Lodolo threw seven strong innings as the Reds beat the New York Mets 8-4 on Friday night.

Matt McLain and Tyler Stephenson each launched a two-run shot for the Reds, who have won five of six. It was the third time this season they went deep four times in a game.

After allowing Juan Soto’s first-inning homer and an RBI single by Jeff McNeil in the second, Lodolo (7-6) retired 16 of the next 18 hitters — including 10 in a row during one stretch. He finished with seven strikeouts and matched his longest start of the year.

Soto’s solo drive gave the Mets an early lead in Sean Manaea’s first start this season. Re-signed to a three-year contract in the offseason, the left-hander missed the first 95 games due to an oblique strain and a bone chip in his pitching elbow. He returned with an extended relief appearance Sunday at Kansas City.

Manaea gave up Hays’ first homer but struck out six over four innings of one-hit ball. He was pulled after 69 pitches, and Cincinnati scored seven runs off a depleted Mets bullpen.

Rookie right-hander Alex Carrillo (0-1) was hit hard, allowing five runs and three homers in 1 1/3 innings.

New York scored twice in the ninth before Emilio Pagán induced a bases-loaded popup from Francisco Lindor to end it.

Hays led off the sixth with his second home run of the night. Spencer Steer walked and, two batters later, Stephenson drove a belt-high fastball into the left-center stands to give the Reds a 6-2 lead.

Lodolo threw 97 pitches and failed to reach 100 for the 24th straight start, despite ranking among the top 10 in the National League in innings pitched. … Cincinnati outfielder TJ Friedl was hit by three pitches from three different pitchers, tying a major league record.

New York RHP Clay Holmes (8-4, 3.31 ERA) opposes RHP Nick Martinez (7-9, 4.78) in the second game of the series Saturday. In a pregame ceremony, the Mets will retire David Wright's No. 5 jersey.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

New York Mets pitcher Sean Manaea reacts after Cincinnati Reds' Austin Hays hit a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets' Brandon Nimmo leaps for a ball hit by Cincinnati Reds' Matt McLain for a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Mets catcher Luis Torrens watches as Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Stephenson (37) celebrates with Spencer Steer (7) after they score on two-run home run by Stephenson during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Cincinnati Reds' Austin Hays hits a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, July 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Cincinnati Reds' Austin Hays hits a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, July 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

PARIS (AP) — A Paris court is to rule on Monday in a case involving 10 people accused of cyberbullying French first lady Brigitte Macron by spreading false online claims about her gender and sexuality, allegations her daughter said damaged her health and family life.

The defendants, eight men and two women aged 41 to 60, are accused of posting “numerous malicious comments” falsely claiming that President Emmanuel Macron ’s wife was born a man and linking the 24-year age gap with her husband to pedophilia. Some of the posts were viewed tens of thousands of times.

Brigitte Macron did not attend the two-day trial in October.

Her daughter, Tiphaine Auzière, testified about what she described as the “deterioration” of her mother’s life since the online harassment intensified. “She cannot ignore the horrible things said about her,” Auzière told the court. She said the impact has extended to the entire family, including Macron’s grandchildren.

Defendant Delphine Jegousse, 51, who is known as Amandine Roy and describes herself as a medium and an author, is considered as having played a major role in spreading the rumor after she released a four-hour video on her YouTube channel in 2021.

The X account of Aurélien Poirson-Atlan, 41, known as Zoé Sagan on social media, was suspended in 2024 after his name was cited in several judicial investigations.

Other defendants include an elected official, a teacher and a computer scientist. Several told the court their comments were intended as humor or satire and said they did not understand why they were being prosecuted. They face up to two years in prison if convicted.

The case follows years of conspiracy theories falsely alleging that Brigitte Macron was born under the name Jean-Michel Trogneux, which is actually the name of her brother. The Macrons have also filed a defamation suit in the United States against conservative influencer Candace Owens.

The Macrons, who have been married since 2007, first met at the high school where he was a student and she was a teacher. Brigitte Macron, 24 years her husband’s senior, was then called Brigitte Auzière, a married mother of three.

Emmanuel Macron, 48, has been France’s president since 2017.

FILE - French President's wife Brigitte Macron arrives ahead of the ceremony outside "La Belle Equipe" bar, Thursday Nov. 13, 2025 in Paris as part of ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of terrorist attacks. (Ludovic Marin, Pool photo via AP, File)