Reds become first team to homer 4 times in an inning this season

CINCINNATI (AP) — Terry Francona has been hoping for a game where Cincinnati could put it together offensively.

The Reds manager certainly got that on Wednesday night.

Cincinnati became the first team this season to hit four home runs in an inning, accomplishing the feat during the fourth inning of its 11-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

“That was a fun inning. We drove some balls the other way and got rewarded for it,” Francona said.

The game was tied at 2 going into the inning and the Reds had a 7-2 lead going into the fifth.

Noelvi Marte led off the fourth with a solo shot off Phillies starter Alan Rangel to put Cincinnati ahead 3-2. With two outs, Elly De La Cruz hit a two-run drive to right-center off Tanner Banks and rookie Sal Stewart and JJ Bleday followed with solo homers.

The last team in the majors to do it was the Phillies, who had four homers in the bottom of the seventh inning on Sept. 24, 2025, against the Miami Marlins.

It is the fifth time since 1974 and first since the seventh inning of Cincinnati's game on July 4, 2010, against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field that the Reds have gone deep four times in an inning. The last time they did it at home was May 7, 2008, also against the Cubs.

It was the 15th time since 1961 Cincinnati has had back-to-back-to-back homers. The last instance came in the sixth inning against Arizona on July 22, 2023, with TJ Friedl, Matt McLain and Jake Fraley going deep off Brandon Pfaadt.

“I've never been a part of something like that," Bleday said. “I was looking for something I can put the barrel on and he made a mistake there and put a good swing on it.”

Stewart — who was selected to the All-Star Game last week — also had a two-run shot in the third for his second two-homer game of the season.

Stewart's homer in the fourth was his 19th of the season and surpassed Frank Robinson for the most by a Reds rookie before the All-Star break.

“It feels good to be in company with someone that great of a stature of a player," Stewart said. “So definitely grateful.”

The Reds are 12th in the majors in homers with 113.

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Cincinnati Reds' JJ Bleday, right, celebrates with Eugenio Suárez, left, after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Cincinnati, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Sal Stewart celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Cincinnati, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds Noelvi Marte watches his solo home run as Philadelphia Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto is at right run during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Cincinnati, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly de la Cruz hits a two-run homer during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Cincinnati, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly de la Cruz, right, celebrates with Sal Stewart, left, after hitting a two-run homer during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Cincinnati, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Sal Stewart hit two homers — including one when Cincinnati went deep four times in the fourth inning — Noelvi Marte drove in four runs and the Reds defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 11-5 on Wednesday night.

Chase Burns (11-1) picked up his 10th straight winning decision for the Reds, who are 3-7 in their last 10 games.

Kyle Schwarber hit his major league-leading 32nd homer for the Phillies, which surpassed Mike Schmidt's 31 in 1979 for the most in franchise history before the All-Star break. J.T. Realmuto also went deep.

Stewart tied it with a two-run homer to right off starter Alan Rangel (0-2) in the third before Cincinnati became the first team in the majors to go deep four times in an inning this season.

Marte led off the fourth with a solo shot to put the Reds on top 3-2. With two outs, Elly De La Cruz hit a two-run drive to right-center off Tanner Banks and Stewart and JJ Bleday followed with solo homers.

It was the 15th time since 1961 — and first since 2023 — Cincinnati has had back-to-back-to-back homers.

It is the second two-homer game this season for Stewart, who was selected for the All-Star Game last week.

Marte also had a three-run double down the left-field line with the bases loaded in the sixth to extend the Reds' lead to 11-4.

Reds center fielder TJ Friedl made the defensive play of the night in the third when he made sprinted and made a running leap at the wall in right-center to deny Bryson Stott an extra-base hit.

Burns went five innings and allowed at least three runs for only the third time in 18 starts. The left-hander had a season-high six walks and tied a season low with two strikeouts in five innings.

Rangel, making his second big-league start, gave up three runs in 3 1/3 innings.

LHP Jesús Luzardo (7-4, 3.75 ERA), who was added to the NL All-Star roster on Tuesday, goes for Philadelphia while RHP Brady Singer (3-8, 5.03 ERA) takes the mound for Cincinnati.

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

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Cincinnati, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Philadelphia Phillies Justin Crawford dives in to home plate to score on a wild pitch as Cincinnati Reds pitcher Chase Burns, left, reaches in with a late tag during the second inning of a baseball game in Cincinnati, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly de la Cruz, right, celebrates with Edwin Arroyo, left, after hitting a two-run homer during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Cincinnati, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Philadelphia Phillies J.T. Realmuto loses control of his bat during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Reds' Sal Stewart celebrates as he runs to home plate to score after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Cincinnati, Wednesday, July 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)