Cincinnati Reds Defeat Kansas City Royals Twice in Key NL Central Games

The Cincinnati Reds have had recent success against the Kansas City Royals, winning back-to-back games in their interleague series. On Monday, Nick Martinez pitched seven strong innings with only one hit allowed, and Tyler Stephenson contributed a two-run homer to lead the Reds to a 7-4 victory despite rainy conditions. Elly De La Cruz continued his power hitting on Tuesday, blasting two long home runs and helping Cincinnati secure a 7-2 win, improving their record to .500 for the season. The Reds' offense has been consistent, scoring at least six runs in four consecutive games and maintaining strong starting pitching performances, which has helped the team recover from earlier struggles. The Royals have seen some individual highlights, including Salvador Perez's recent hot streak and Vinnie Pasquantino’s hitting streak, but have struggled overall, particularly in games where the Reds score five or more runs. The series has been notable for the presence of former teammates Brady Singer and Jonathan India playing on opposite sides, adding a personal dimension to the matchup.