CINCINNATI -- Christian Encarnacion-Strand has a big bat that can make a difference, but injuries have interrupted his progress more than he or the Reds would like. Freshly back from a long stint on the injured list, Encarnacion-Strand made his lineup presence felt in his first game back.
In one game that spanned parts of two days, Encarnacion-Strand collected three hits that included the game-tying home run in the sixth inning and a walk-off RBI double in the bottom of the 10th for Cincinnati's 4-3 win over the Diamondbacks on Saturday at Great American Ball Park.
“It’s amazing. Just being healthy and being able to be on the field is hands down the best," said Encarnacion-Strand, who was out since April 17 with lower back inflammation. "I want to be a contributor to the team and I always want to be a big help.”
Not only was it the Reds' first walk-off win of the 2025 season and their first win in six extra inning games, Encarnacion-Strand's hit provided the club's first run in extras this year too.
Reds manager Terry Francona enjoyed watching his players mob Encarnacion-Strand after he touched second base.
“It was probably a little more subdued than normal because we’ve got another game," Francona said. "But it’s still nice to let them have some fun. I was glad for them.”
Cincinnati and Arizona were slated to play their regularly-scheduled game less than an hour later on Saturday.
Encarnacion-Strand was limited to 29 games last season because of a fractured right hand. This season, he was batting .158 with a .481 OPS and two homers in 15 games before going on the IL and missing 45 games. But he came back on a roll after batting .324 with a 1.095 OPS, two home runs, five doubles and seven RBIs over his 10-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville.
In his first at-bat on Friday with a runner on second base and no outs, Encarnacion-Strand hit a grounder to third base and couldn't move the runner. He made an adjustment while hitting in the fourth inning when he lined a single to center field.
Arizona had a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning in pouring rain when Encarnacion-Strand hit his game-tying one-out solo home run to center field on a 1-0 breaking ball from reliever Cristian Mena.
“Baseball is timing and when you’re off time, sometimes you’re going to hit groundballs to the third baseman or shortstop. Just making an adjustment, try to stay back to the middle," Encarnacion-Strand said.
After the inning ended with a tied score, heavy rains forced the game's suspension before the top of the seventh inning on Friday.
The score remained deadlocked into the 10th inning when Encarnacion-Strand scorched a one-out liner to center field off reliever Ryan Thompson. Alek Thomas unsuccessfully tried to play it with a sliding catch the ball got by him and to the wall as pinch-runner Jake Fraley scored the winning run.
In his career with a chance to end a game for a win, Encarnacion-Strand is 6-for-10 with two homers and four walk-off winners.
“I like the pressure. I’m a big fan of pressure," he said.
Reds reliever Tony Santillan had runners on the corners and one out in the top of the 10th and escaped with two strikeouts for the victory.
Trying to put together a consistent offense has been a challenge for the Reds much of the season because of injuries to hitters like Austin Hays and Encarnacion-Strand. Because of his power the 25-year-old Encarnacion-Strand possesses, his bat is always a threat to do damage.
“That’s the hope and you hope it’s more than a threat, which showed today and last night," Francona said. "I think confidence is a huge factor in what our guys do and he should be feeling good.”