The Cincinnati Reds secured their first victory of the 2026 season with a 6-5 win over the Boston Red Sox in 11 innings at Great American Ball Park. Dane Myers delivered a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 11th. The game drew attention for home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor, who had six calls overturned by the ABS challenge system.
Cincinnati improved to 1-0 after Matt McLain drew a walk to lead off the bottom of the 11th against Boston reliever Justin Slaten. Myers, who had entered the game for defense in the ninth, then lined a single to left field, scoring automatic runner TJ Friedl for his third career walk-off hit. Reliever Connor Phillips preserved the lead with scoreless 10th and 11th innings, striking out two while facing only five batters after Trevor Story's lineout to second in the 11th doubled off the automatic runner. Earlier, closer Emilio Pagán allowed a game-tying two-out home run to Wilyer Abreu in the top of the ninth. The Reds went 5 for 5 on challenges, while the Red Sox succeeded on 1 of 3, for eight total reviews. Bucknor, a major-league umpire since 1996 and one of the longest-tenured at age 63, had six pitches overturned, including consecutive called third strikes to Eugenio Suárez in the sixth. Frustration peaked in the eighth when Bucknor ruled Story out on a check-swing strike three without consulting the first-base umpire, stranding the tying and go-ahead runs. Red Sox manager Alex Cora was ejected arguing the call. 'He has one job to do. It wasn't his best day,' Cora said afterward. League-wide, ABS challenges stood at 35 for 60 (58%) entering the day.
