Christian Encarnacion-Strand broke out of a recent slump with a powerful performance that included his first career grand slam, leading the Cincinnati Reds to an 8-4 victory over the Boston Red Sox. After a tough stretch where he batted just .157 with a meager .363 OPS, his pivotal seventh-inning home run shifted the momentum of the game and solidified the Reds' status as the only MLB team yet to be swept in a series this season.

Manager Terry Francona had previously attempted to spur Encarnacion-Strand by kissing his bat for luck, a gesture he humorously reconsidered after the downturn in performance that followed. The Reds, facing potential sweep after a loss earlier in the day, relied on Encarnacion-Strand's timely hitting and solid pitching from Nick Martinez, who secured the win while navigating through a challenging outing. The victory not only lifted team spirits but also highlighted the resilience of the Reds as they head into a series against Philadelphia.