Samad Taylor, Padres hand reeling Reds fifth straight loss

Samad Taylor knocked in a career-high three runs Monday night while Freddy Fermin homered as the San Diego Padres came from behind to post a 6-2 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds.

San Diego trailed 2-1 before Xander Bogaerts started a two-run seventh with a double off Andrew Abbott (4-4). Gavin Sheets slapped a game-tying double into the left field corner, knocking out Abbott in favor of Tejay Antone.

Jace Bowen bunted for a hit that advanced Sheets to third, and Taylor followed by bunting a 3-1 pitch toward the right side. First baseman Sal Stewart tried to throw Sheets out at the plate but bobbled the ball and couldn't get off a throw.

Taylor broke the game open in the eighth by looping a two-run single into left. He then stole second and scored when Fermin lined an RBI single to center. Before Monday, Taylor hadn't driven home a run in the major leagues since 2023.

Reliever Adrian Morejon (5-1) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings as San Diego won for just the third time in 14 games. Padres starter Walker Buehler gave up eight hits and one run in 4 2/3 innings, walking two and fanning four.

Abbott suffered his first loss in five career starts against San Diego, yielding four hits and three runs in six-plus innings while walking two and striking out six. It was the fifth consecutive loss for Cincinnati, which finished 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine baserunners.

San Diego initiated the scoring in the bottom of the third when Fermin lofted a solo homer to left that traveled an estimated 376 feet. It was Fermin's third homer, all in the past three games.

Cincinnati tied the game in the fifth with a two-out rally. JJ Bleday rifled a double to right-center and scored when Stewart grounded a single up the middle.

The Reds took a 2-1 edge in the sixth. Noelvi Marte singled and stole second, then moved to third on Matt McLain's flyout to Taylor at the warning track in left-center. After Tyler Stephenson walked, Morejon relieved Bradgley Rodriguez and yielded a sacrifice fly to center by Edwin Arroyo that scored Marte.

Bogaerts, Bowen, Taylor and Fermin each collected two of San Diego's 10 hits.

--Field Level Media