Look: The Cincinnati Reds Make History in 24-Run Effort vs Baltimore Orioles

It started with a bang and didn’t stop. From the very first pitch, the Cincinnati Reds looked like a team on a mission. But by the end of a wild Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park, they weren’t just a team with a mission — they were a team making history.

The Reds annihilated the Baltimore Orioles, 24-6, in a game that quickly turned from competitive to chaotic, from curious to historic. What unfolded was one of the most dominant offensive performances in the history of Major League Baseball — a game that will be talked about for years to come by fans in Cincinnati and beyond.

Let’s break down the game, the records, the reactions, and what this kind of outburst might mean going forward for both clubs.

An Offensive Avalanche

Before fans could finish their first hot dog, the Reds were already up by five.

The first inning set the tone. Jonathan India crushed a three-run home run to left field, Spencer Steer laced a double into the gap to bring in another run, and Elly De La Cruz turned on the jets for a triple that brought the crowd to its feet.

From there, the avalanche only intensified.

Over the next eight innings, the Reds kept adding — three runs here, four runs there — until they had posted 24 runs on 28 hits. It wasn’t just a big day at the plate — it was a demolition.

Manager David Bell said after the game, “We’ve had some strong offensive performances this year, but this was different. This was relentless. It was fun, it was energetic, and it was historic.”

Historic Numbers From Start to Finish

Let’s take a closer look at just how historic the Reds’ performance was.

• 24 runs were the most by the Reds in a single game since 1999, when they scored 26 against the Colorado Rockies.
• 28 hits marked the most in a game by any MLB team this season and the second most in Reds franchise history.
• All nine starters had at least one hit, one run, and one RBI — the first time that’s happened in franchise history.
• The Reds became just the fifth team in the last 100 years to score 24+ runs while collecting 28+ hits and hitting multiple home runs.

Add to that the fact that the Reds batted around twice, and it’s clear: this wasn’t just a blowout — it was an all-out assault on the record books.

Jonathan India Leads the Charge

It’s one thing to have a great day. It’s another thing entirely to have a career day, and that’s exactly what Jonathan India delivered.

India finished 4-for-6 with two home runs, including a grand slam, and eight RBIs — the most in a single game by any MLB player this season.

“I felt locked in,” India said. “I felt like I was in rhythm, seeing the ball well, and just trusting my swing. When you have guys on base like we did today, you know you’re going to get opportunities. I just tried to make them count.”

India became the first Reds player since Scooter Gennett (who hit four home runs in a game in 2017) to drive in eight runs in a single outing. His day was punctuated by a third-inning grand slam that pushed the lead to 12-2 and effectively buried the Orioles’ chances.

The Supporting Cast Shows Out

While India grabbed headlines, the entire Reds lineup contributed in a big way:

• Elly De La Cruz: 3-for-5, 1 triple, 3 RBIs, 3 runs scored
• Spencer Steer: 4-for-6, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs
• Tyler Stephenson: 4-for-6, 2 RBIs, 2 runs
• Jake Fraley: 3-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBIs, 3 runs
• Christian Encarnacion-Strand: 3-for-6, 1 HR, 4 RBIs

Even backup catcher Luke Maile, who entered the game in the seventh, got in on the action with a two-run single in the eighth.

When it was all said and done, Reds hitters had reached base 35 times — combining hits, walks, and hit-by-pitches — and left no doubt that they had found a groove few teams ever reach.

Orioles Shell-Shocked by Worst Loss in Modern Team History

On the flip side of glory is disaster — and Sunday’s game was a complete and total unraveling for the Orioles.

Coming into the game with a strong 12-7 record and playoff aspirations, Baltimore looked like a team on the rise. But their pitching staff was exposed in every possible way.

Starter Cole Irvin was shelled for nine earned runs in just 1.2 innings. The bullpen didn’t fare any better, with five different relievers combining to allow 15 more runs — none able to stop the bleeding.

By the sixth inning, Orioles manager Brandon Hyde had backup infielders stretching in the bullpen in case they needed to pitch. The scoreboard read 21-5, and fans in Baltimore were already processing the reality of a game that would be forever burned into the record books — for all the wrong reasons.

“It was a train wreck,” Hyde said postgame. “We couldn’t get outs, we fell behind in counts, we gave them too many opportunities, and they cashed in every time. It’s humbling. There’s no other way to say it.”

A Clubhouse Buzzing With Confidence

In the Reds clubhouse after the game, the energy was high, but the message from leaders was measured.

“This doesn’t win us the division,” said veteran Joey Votto, who is currently on the injured list but present in the dugout. “It’s one game. But it’s a statement. It shows what this team is capable of. We’re young, we’re hungry, and when we play loose and aggressive like we did today — we can do special things.”

Manager David Bell echoed that sentiment.

“I’m proud of how our guys didn’t let up,” he said. “Even when we were up 10, 15, 18 runs — they were still hustling, still executing. That’s the kind of mentality that can carry a team through a long season.”

What This Means for the Reds Going Forward

Cincinnati improved to 10-10 with the win — back to .500 after an uneven start to the year. While it’s just one game in a long season, it could serve as a pivotal moment.

The Reds boast one of the youngest and most dynamic cores in the National League. De La Cruz, Steer, India, and Encarnacion-Strand are all 27 or younger. With their pitching beginning to stabilize behind Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, the pieces may be starting to fall into place.

They now sit just a game and a half back in a winnable NL Central. The Cardinals are struggling. The Pirates are inconsistent. The Brewers look beatable.

This game didn’t clinch a playoff spot — but it reminded everyone that the Reds are a real threat.

Baltimore Must Regroup — and Fast

For the Orioles, the path is clear: shake it off and move on.

Despite the disaster, Baltimore still holds a winning record and remains in second place in the AL East. With stars like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, the club is built for sustained success.

But the glaring issue after Sunday is pitching depth. While the top of the rotation has been solid, the bullpen has looked shaky in recent outings, and Sunday’s outing brought all of that to light.

“You learn a lot more about a team from how they respond to a game like this than the game itself,” said Hyde. “We’re going to find out who we are.”

A League-Wide Wake-Up Call

The Reds’ 24-6 demolition didn’t just impact two teams — it sent a message to the entire league: don’t sleep on Cincinnati.

After a decade of rebuilding, the Reds have assembled a core that blends speed, power, and versatility. Sunday’s outburst won’t happen every night, but it showed just how explosive the team can be.

As the All-Star break approaches in a few months, don’t be surprised if several Reds — including India, De La Cruz, and Stephenson — are in the conversation.

This isn’t the same old Reds team. This is a team with swagger, firepower, and now, a historic day under its belt.

A Day to Remember

Baseball is a game built on numbers. Stats, box scores, averages, records — they’re all part of the fabric of the sport. But some days, the numbers transcend the box score. Some days, they tell a story that will be remembered long after the final out.

24 runs. 28 hits. 8 RBIs from one player.

It was a symphony of swings, a barrage of base hits, and a statement made loud and clear: the Cincinnati Reds are here — and they’ve arrived in spectacular fashion.

So yes, it looked like a football score. But it was more than that. It was history. It was dominance. And for the Reds, it may just be the spark that lights a season on fire.