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The Cincinnati Reds edged the Baltimore Orioles 3–2 on July 5 at Great American Ball Park in a low-scoring affair that fell short of the 9.5-run Vegas total. Cincinnati's offense was anemic, collecting just 5 hits with a .228 batting average and .697 OPS, but manufactured enough runs through a solo home run and timely at-bats to secure the win. Baltimore countered with 7 hits and a superior .714 OPS yet managed only 2 runs, striking out 7 times while drawing 4 walks. The Reds' pitching staff dominated the strikeout column with 7 Ks against 4 walks, though the home team's ERA of 4.57 reflected occasional command issues. Baltimore's pitching was marginally more efficient with a 4.34 ERA despite allowing 5 hits and 3 earned runs. The decisive difference came down to Cincinnati's ability to convert limited scoring chances, while Baltimore's offensive efficiency failed to translate into runs with runners in scoring position. The Reds' defensive perfection—no errors—proved crucial in a tight contest that underscored both teams' offensive struggles heading into the second half.