In a dominant performance, the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on April 20, 2026, at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Sal Stewart, the Reds' rookie sensation, opened the scoring with a two-run home run, driving in Matt McLain after he hit a double. Despite a shaky start where Reds pitcher Rhett Lowder walked in a run in the first inning, he settled down to deliver an impressive 6.0 innings, allowing just 1 earned run on 5 hits while striking out 3 batters. The Reds' bullpen, featuring Brock Burke, Pierce Johnson, and Connor Phillips, maintained the lead with scoreless outings. Stewart's performance earned him the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game, marking his status as one of the league's top players this season, joining Yordan Alvarez as the only players with at least 8 home runs and 20 RBIs. The two teams will face off again tomorrow, with Chase Burns set to pitch for the Reds against Steven Matz of the Rays.