The Cincinnati Reds are still breathing in the NL Wild Card race, and they have Noelvi Marte to thank. His ninth-inning home run robbery Thursday afternoon didn’t just secure a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates — it may have saved the team’s season.

With two outs and a 2-1 lead at Great American Ball Park, Bryan Reynolds launched a deep fly to right. Marte sprinted, tracked the ball, timed his leap perfectly, and snagged it just over the fence. The game-saving catch preserved the lead and sealed a critical victory.

Manager Terry Francona ’s reaction came immediately after the final out, and the veteran skipper didn’t mince words.

In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), NBC 5 Cincinnati’s Charlie Clifford captured Francona’s high praise.

“Under the circumstances — that is one

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