Reds 8, D-backs 7 (11 innings) on August 26.
Arizona took a 4-0 lead in the sixth inning of this game. But the game went into extra innings after the visiting Reds scored four runs without reply.
Then chaos reigned. After back-to-back doubles by Nick Martini and Spencer Steer to start the tenth, Christian Encarnacion-Strand added an RBI single for good measure, and Cincinnati had a three-run lead.
However, that lead didn’t last long. Geraldo Perdomo singled to start the bottom of the tenth inning, scoring Jose Herrera, who had started the inning at second base. Tommy Pham finally reached after second baseman Matt McLain made a mistake, allowing Perdomo to score. After that, Christian Walker scored Corbin Carroll, who had walked earlier, with a sacrifice fly that tied the score.
This wild finale stands out among the others on this list because it was caused by a balk by D-backs reliever Nabil Crismatt rather than a single or walk that gave the Reds the lead in the eleventh inning. When the balk happened, TJ Hopkins was at bat after Steer reached on an infield single that put the automatic runner to first base.
When Crismatt erred, Cincinnati took the lead with one TJ at bat and another representing the go-ahead run at third. Lucas Sims had a quiet bottom of the eleventh to end the game for the Reds.
Reds 12, Pirates 13, Sept. 23
On this day, the Pirates not only pulled off an amazing comeback to win a thrilling game, but they also created franchise history.
At Great American Ball Park, Pittsburgh’s start was not pretty. Cincinnati led by nine runs by the fourth inning. In the 142-year history of the team, the Bucs had a record of 0-819 when trailing by nine runs or more in a game.
Then the unthinkable happened: Pittsburgh scored 13 runs in a row, three of which came from a home run by Bryan Reynolds in the opposite field, and a late threat from Cincinnati was neutralized by outstanding defense.
With the Pirates holding a 13-11 lead, the Reds had two on and one out in the eighth inning. A hard ground ball traveling toward center field was struck by Tyler Stephenson. However, second baseman Ji Hwan Bae started a double play that ended the inning after making an incredible sliding grab.
Carmen Mlodzinski finished the game out for his first MLB save and a historic Pirates triumph in the ninth inning, despite the Reds putting the first two runners on and scoring a run on a groundout to draw within a run.
Braves 5, Phillies 4 (NLDS Game 2), October 9.
In the regular season, wild games are one thing. A crazy conclusion to a thrilling postseason match? That is a different matter entirely.
In Game 2 of the National League Division Series between the Braves and Phillies at Truist Park, we witnessed exactly that. With 307 home runs in the regular season, Atlanta’s offense tied the AL/NL record and became the first team in league history to end a season with a slugging percentage of.500 or higher (.501). Atlanta had the most prolific offensive in the game.
Nevertheless, the Phillies’ pitching silenced Atlanta for the first 14 innings of the series, and the Braves lineup was noticeably quiet. The Braves bats then began to wake up in the sixth inning of Game 2. To put them ahead, Ozzie Albies singled home Ronald AcuƱa Jr. Then, to cut Atlanta’s deficit to one in the sixth, Travis d’Arnaud blasted a two-run home run off Zack Wheeler.
Austin Riley launched a game-winning two-run home run in the eighth inning, setting the stage for an incredible and historic conclusion.
Opening the ninth inning against A.J. Minter, Bryce Harper walked. To take on J.T. Realmuto, Raisel Iglesias was called up from the Atlanta bullpen. Nick Castellanos was brought up after he got Realmuto to fly out, and he hit a drive to deep right-center field.
There was just one out, but Harper was gone at the first crack of the bat. Michael Harris II, a center fielder, leaped spectacularly to collect the ball near the wall and then shot it back into the infield. Riley was positioned close to second base when the ball was skipped to him. Riley threw to first to double off Harper and end the game.
Eighth-five-three double plays have never concluded a postseason game until that point.