There are blown saves, and then there are collapses of historic proportion. The Boston Red Sox experienced the latter on Wednesday night in Cincinnati, watching a seemingly comfortable 10–5 lead evaporate in the bottom of the ninth as the Reds stormed back with six runs to steal an improbable 11–10 victory.
Fans who left Riverfront Stadium early after Barry Bonds’ towering 444-foot three-run homer gave Boston a five-run cushion might still be trying to process how the game ended. The numbers tell the story: 11 batters came to the plate for the Reds in the ninth, producing four hits, three walks, one double play, and—most crucially—six runs.
How It Unfolded
Boston’s Setup (Top 9th):
Doug Henry had been shaky but got two quick outs around a walk before walking Akira Eto to extend the inning. That brought up Bonds, who punished a 2-1 pitch for his second home run of the season. Exit velocity: 95.6 MPH. Distance: 444 feet to straightaway center. Just like that, the Red Sox entered the bottom of the ninth with what looked like a commanding 10–5 lead.
Cincinnati’s Response (Bottom 9th):
Boston turned to Doug Bochtler, a journeyman right-hander, and the meltdown began immediately:
- Bobby Higginson drew a four-pitch walk.
- Bernie Williams singled sharply (EV 100.0 MPH), putting two aboard.
- Javy Lopez followed with another single (EV 95.6 MPH). Bases loaded, none out.
The Red Sox panicked, bringing in lefty Pedro Borbón. He couldn’t stop the bleeding:
- Eric Davis worked a bases-loaded walk to force in a run.
- Scott Rolen, the rookie third baseman, lined a single to right (EV 107.5 MPH), making it 10–7.
- A double play grounder by pinch-hitter Kevin Young looked like the potential escape, but Lopez scored on the play, trimming the lead to 10–8.
Then came the dagger:
- Matt Stairs launched a two-run homer (EV 104.4 MPH, 341 feet) to tie the game.
- Omar Vizquel and Fernando Vina followed with consecutive singles, with Vizquel aggressively stretching to third on a throw.
- Finally, Higginson—who started the inning—lined a single to right. Vizquel crossed the plate with the winning run.
Reds 11, Red Sox 10.
By the Numbers
- Win Probability Swing: After Bonds’ homer, Boston’s win probability sat at 97.3%. By the end, it was zero.
- Pitching Breakdown: Bochtler and Borbón combined to face nine batters, recording just two outs while allowing six runs.
- Exit Velocity Damage: Cincinnati’s key hits in the 9th were not cheap—Rolen (107.5 MPH), Stairs (104.4 MPH), Vizquel (105.6 MPH). These were hard, line-drive swings, not bloop luck.
The Takeaway
For Boston, this loss isn’t just one game—it’s a red flag for a bullpen that lacks definition. Doug Henry walked two in the top of the ninth, and Bochtler/Borbón combined to show little command or ability to miss bats. The Red Sox bullpen ERA now sits at 7.94 through the season’s first week.
For Cincinnati, the resilience is encouraging. Manager Davey Johnson’s lineup produced quality at-bats, worked walks, and capitalized on every mistake. The middle of the order—Williams, Lopez, Davis, Rolen, and Stairs—either scored or drove in every run of the comeback.
This was more than a win. It was a statement: don’t count the Reds out, not even when they’re down five with three outs to go.