Reds hit 3 home runs and hold on for 5-3 victory over Brewers

CINCINNATI (AP) — Matt McLain snapped a seventh-inning tie with a leadoff homer and the Cincinnati Reds held on to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-3 on Saturday night.

Elly De La Cruz and Tyler Stephenson also went deep for the last-place Reds in a game delayed more than two hours by rain. Emilio Pagán pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth for his 21st save in 24 chances.

William Contreras homered early for the major league-leading Brewers (88-55), who hold a seven-game lead in the NL Central over the Chicago Cubs. Milwaukee began the day last in the big leagues with 132 home runs.

Contreras connected off Andrew Abbott in the first inning, his 14th. De La Cruz answered with his 22nd home run off Dustin May in the bottom half.

The game was delayed by rain for 2 hours, 22 minutes in the fourth. The Reds trailed 2-1 and Jose Trevino singled off DL Hall to tie the score.

Stephenson hit his 15th homer to open the sixth, but the Brewers pulled even on three straight singles against Tony Santillan. Jackson Chourio knocked in the tying run.

Santillan (3-4) struck out Contreras with the bases loaded to keep it tied.

McLain launched his 15th home run off Aaron Ashby (13-3) in the seventh. Eugenio Suárez doubled in the eighth and scored from second base on a wild pitch by Grant Anderson to make it 5-3.

Milwaukee loaded the bases against Pagán with one out in the ninth, but Luis Lara popped up and Contreras flied out to end it.

Abbott’s outing was shortened by the rain delay. The 2025 All-Star has not won since Aug. 6 against the Athletics.

Carlos Jorge went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts in his first major league start in center field for Cincinnati.

Brewers LHP Kyle Harrison (10-4, 3.45 ERA) faces Reds RHP Brady Singer (5-13, 4.83) on Sunday.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Dustin May throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott (41) throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Cincinnati, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz (44) runs the bases after hitting a solo home-run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Cincinnati, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz runs the bases after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Cincinnati, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)

Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz (44) hits a solo home-run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers in Cincinnati, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026. (AP Photo/Ben Jackson)

DENVER (AP) — Players from St. Louis and Colorado tilted their caps Saturday night in apparent protest of umpire Doug Eddings one day after he instructed Cardinals rookie pitcher Hancel Rincon to straighten his hat.

Eddings' comments prompted an argument with St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol that led to Marmol's ejection.

Most of the Cardinals' players had their hats tilted during pregame warmups, and many continued to tilt them in the dugout during the game. Some even tilted their batting helmets to celebrate reaching base. At least some Colorado players also wore their caps to the side.

Rincon said Eddings apologized to him when they spoke briefly on the field Saturday. Rincon said through an interpreter that he accepted that apology.

Eddings also spoke to Marmol before the game, but the manager said there was “nothing of meaning” out of their brief conversation.

“We've had a few rough stretches here, but the one superpower that we've had through this whole season is our ability to unify and really stand up for all the guys we have in the clubhouse and have each other's backs,” Matthew Liberatore, St. Louis' starter Saturday night, said after the Rockies' 10-5 win.

“It's a really tight-knit group. I love the fact that regardless of what's going on, they always have each other's backs,” Marmol said.

Rincon, a 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic, made his major league debut in relief in the sixth inning Friday night and wore his cap with the brim pointing to the left. He straightened it at Eddings' urging, then got Hunter Goodman to fly out before TJ Rumfield tripled and scored on a wild pitch and Cole Carrigg hit an inside-the-park home run.

Rincon allowed another single before being replaced by Justin Bruihl. Marmol then came out of the dugout to confront Eddings and was ejected during Colorado’s five-run inning.

“I had an issue with Doug,” Marmol told reporters after the game. “Just Doug. He took it upon himself to tell our rookie pitcher the kid’s ‘not going to wear his hat on my field that way.’ You got Dontrelle Willis, CC Sabathia, Pedro Strop -- plenty of guys that have worn it way more tilted. I have an issue with that. That’s just a power-hungry move, in my opinion.”

Eddings told reporters postgame that he confronted Rincon after a Colorado hitter complained. Goodman was the only hitter to face Rincon at the time of the warning, and the catcher told MLB.com on Saturday that he did not complain to Eddings.

St. Louis rallied to win 7-6 on Friday after Ivan Herrera's three-run homer in the ninth inning.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker warms up before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, right, argues after he was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Doug Eddings in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Hancel Rincon emerges from the clubhouse to take part in practice before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies infielder Vimael Machin, right, talks with St. Louis Cardinals bullpen catcher Kleininger Teran, left, before a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Cardinals left fielder José Fermín warms up before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)