Stephenson’s home run lifts Reds to series victory against Padres

“I just like blowing bubbles,” he said later.

The bubble exploded at about the same time as the crowd as Stephenson rounded the bases with what would turn out to be the game-winning hit in a 4-3 victory against the San Diego Padres.

“In that situation, you’ve got to be aggressive,” Stephenson said. “I just happened to get a pitch that I could handle, and it was good to see it go over the fence.”

The Reds bounced back from a 12-5 loss on Saturday and won the three-game series 2-1. They have won seven of their last eight series.

Stephenson pinch hit for Joey Votto and hit the home run after Stuart Fairchild walked with two outs.

“That’s always a tough job, pinch hitting,” Reds manager David Bell said, “so we give him a lot of credit. To hit a pinch hit home run to win a game, that is very special. We’re just continuing to do things a team has to do.”

Stephenson has seven home runs this season. He hit two in the series against the Padres. He hit a tie-breaking home run in the seventh inning Friday in a game the Reds won 7-5 in 11 innings.

Until the home run by Stephenson, the star of the game was Andrew Abbott. In his sixth career appearance, he delivered the longest start by a Reds pitcher this season, striking out a career-high 12 batters in 7 2/3 innings. He lowered his ERA to 1.21.

Asked if he had surprised even himself by how dominant he has been so early in his career, Abbott said, “I think it’s all the hard work that we’ve all put in. I keep telling myself getting there is the dream but staying there’s the lifestyle that you want. You want go in and put in your hard work every day and just put your head down and go. That has forever been my motto and that will continue to be no motto if I’m having success or if I’m getting hit hard.”

The Reds took the lead on a two-run home run by Spencer Steer in the fourth. He leads the team with 14 home runs and is tied with Jake Fraley for the team lead with 50 RBIs.

Abbott didn’t give up a run until Ha-Seong Kim hit a home run with two outs in the eighth. Lucas Sims replaced Abbott after the home run and gave up a game-tying home run to Fernando Tatis Jr.

Alexis Diaz allowed a run in the ninth, but got a lineout to end the game with a runner on second. Diaz earned his 23rd save.

The Reds (45-39) remain tied with the Milwaukee Brewers (45-39), who also won Sunday, atop the National League Central Division. This was the Reds’ last home game before the All-Star break. They start a four-game series on the road against the Washington Nationals on Monday and then start a three-game series against the Brewers on Friday.

Finishing the first half strong will be a goal.

“One of the most important things about a baseball season — and we talked about this as a team — is really being in the moment,” Bell said. “We’re all aware of that. We’re aware of where we are. We’re aware the All-Star break is much needed time off for a lot of reasons. We’re aware of it, but we don’t focus on that. We focus on going out and working every day and playing hard.”

MONDAY’S GAME

Reds at Nationals, 6:05 p.m., Bally Sports Ohio, 700, 1410