Stephenson drives in 3 runs, Martinez finishes with 5 Ks as the Reds beat the Rays 7-2

CINCINNATI (AP) — Tyler Stephenson homered and drove in three runs and Nick Martinez struck out five in five innings as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-2 on Friday night.

Martinez (9-9) allowed four hits and two earned runs as the Reds won their second straight game and for the fourth time in seven games since the All-Star break.

Stephenson's solo shot in the second inning was his eighth homer of the season. He droved in two more runs with a single in the seventh inning.

TJ Freidl hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning, his 10th of the season. Elly De La Cruz went 4 for 5 with a run scored, and Austin Hays was 3 for 5 with two runs scored.

Jonathan Aranda and Taylor Walls each drove in a run for the Rays, who lost for the seventh time in 10 games.

Zack Littell (8-8) allowed 10 hits and five runs with two strikeouts in the loss. He has allowed a league-leading 26 homers this season.

Stephenson's single with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh extended the Reds' lead from three to five runs.

The Reds stranded eight runners, and went 5 for 17 with runners in scoring position.

Tampa Bay RHP Ryan Pepiot (6-8) will face Cincinnati LHP Andrew Abbott (8-1) in the second game of the three-game series.

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

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz (44) celebrates with teammate TJ Friedl following a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Reds' Emilio Pagán, right, celebrates with teammate Tyler Stephenson following a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz (44) hits a single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Martinez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Stephenson hits a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, July 25, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

DALLAS (AP) — Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg was ruled out for the second half of a 118-109 loss to Denver on Wednesday night after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half Wednesday night.

Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson, and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6:01 left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2:35 before the break.

The 19-year-old didn't come of the locker room for the second half before the announcement that he was out for the game. Flagg injured the same ankle two nights earlier, leaving briefly to get it taped before returning and leading Dallas with 27 points in a 113-105 victory over Brooklyn.

“He stepped on someone’s foot,” coach Jason Kidd said. “Last game, he twisted his ankle, too. We decided to hold him (out) for the second half.”

Kidd said he didn't know if Flagg, who wasn't available to reporters after the game, or center Daniel Gafford would play the second game of a back-to-back against Utah on Thursday night. Gafford was ruled out during the second half against Denver with a right ankle sprain that has bothered him most of the season.

Flagg was playing his 40th game, three more than his only season as a Duke standout when he led the Blue Devils to the Final Four as The Associated Press men's player of the year.

Flagg missed just one game in the first 41 of the Mavericks, due to an illness in November. The Rookie of the Year contender is averaging 18.8 points and 6.3 rebounds.

Before Gafford exited, the Mavericks were already without their top two frontcourt players in 10-time All-Star Anthony Davis and young center Dereck Lively II. Davis is expected to be sidelined about six weeks with ligament damage in his left hand, and Lively is out for the season following foot surgery.

“This is a hard time for us,” Kidd said. “We have had a lot of injuries. … We have been hurt since day one of training camp. This is the norm. The character has been displayed in tough times of being down. But we keep fighting.”

AP NBA: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NBA

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg walks on the court after briefly leaving to the locker room during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (27) shoots a basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg (32) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg leaves the court and heads to the locker room during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Denver Nuggets Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray, right, goes up for a basket against Dallas Mavericks forward Cooper Flagg during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)