Reds announcers fume at 'middle school mistake' vs division rival Cubs as horrid losing streak continues

Things are going from atrocious to worse for the Cincinnati Reds.

After starting 20-11 for archetypal spot successful the NL Central, the Reds person since gone winless successful May, including 3 consecutive walk-off losses to their part rival Chicago Cubs to autumn to past place.

Well, the Reds and Cubs were backmost astatine Wrigley for an day contention connected Thursday erstwhile a Reds subordinate had a full brainfart.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Ian Happ of the Chicago Cubs scores a tally past Tyler Stephenson of the Cincinnati Reds during the 4th inning astatine Wrigley Field successful Chicago, Illinois, connected May 7, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Down 2-0 with the bases loaded and cipher retired successful the bottommost of the 4th inning, the Reds got a acquisition erstwhile Dansby Swanson deed a grounder to 3rd baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes.

Hayes touched 3rd basal for the archetypal retired of the inning and past fired location for the treble play, and the propulsion bushed Ian Happ by a mile. However, Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson ne'er tagged Happ, alternatively catching the shot portion connected the plate.

Once Hayes touched 3rd base, that took distant the unit astatine home, meaning Happ present had to beryllium tagged. Instead, helium was untouched and ran backmost into the dugout with the Cubs up, 3-0.

Chicago Cubs near fielder Ian Happ is harmless astatine location sheet arsenic Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson stands adjacent during the 4th inning astatine Wrigley Field successful Chicago, Illinois, connected May 7, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)

REDS CLOSER CARTED OFF FIELD AFTER SUSTAINING LEG INJURY JUST ONE PITCH INTO APPEARANCE

Stephenson seemingly forgot that rule, but the Reds broadcasters didn't.

"It's a tag play! He's gotta tag him!" John Sadak said.

"No! No!" said Chris Welsh.

"Oh, this is simply a mediate schoolhouse mistake close here."

Chicago past scored 4 much runs successful the inning en way to an 8-3 triumph and a four-game expanse of the Reds, who person present mislaid 7 games successful a row.

The Reds precocious tied an MLB grounds by walking 7 consecutive Pittsburgh Pirates past week, truthful it's been rather the whirlwind for Cincinnati.

Michael Conforto celebrates the Chicago Cubs' triumph against the Cincinnati Reds astatine Wrigley Field successful Chicago, Illinois, connected May 7, 2026. (David Banks/Imagn Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The winless roadworthy travel is over, though, and the Reds volition big the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals implicit their adjacent six games to effort to get backmost connected track.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.