The Cincinnati Reds were looking to win their 6th game in a row and sweep the season series against Cleveland, but the Guardians had other plans. The home team pounded out 13 hits and scored 11 runs against Cincinnati as they avoided the sweep with a win in the finale of the series.
Final
R
H
E
Cincinnati Reds (35-34)
2
5
0
Cleveland Guardians (35-32)
11
13
1
W: Allen (4-4) L: Lodolo (4-5)
Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread
The Cincinnati Reds failed to capitalize on a runner on third with one out opportunity in the top of the 1st inning. Cleveland took advantage of their chance in their half. David Fry picked up a 1-out walk and then Jose Ramirez just missed a 2-run homer as his ball hit high off of the wall in left field and Fry scored from first base to put the Guardians up 1-0.
Cleveland would pad their lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning after the Guardians loaded their bases. That set up Carlos Santana for a grand slam that pushed the home team’s lead to 5-0. The Reds would get one of those runs back when Elly De La Cruz crushed a 441-foot home run in the top of the 4th that made it halfway up the bleachers in left field.
Nick Lodolo gave up a 1-out single in the bottom of the 4th to Dom Nunez and that ended his day as the Reds went to the bullpen to bring in Lyon Richardson. He would give up a single to the first hitter he faced before recording a strikeout. But pinch hitter Kyle Manzardo came through with a 2-run double into the right field corner to make it 7-1.
TJ Friedl led off the 6th inning with a home run to center to cut into Cleveland’s lead and make it 7-2. The Guardians got that run back rather quickly. And then added to it from there. Joe La Sorsa began the inning by giving up a double. A bunt single followed. Then a chopper to shortstop was ruled an infield hit after Elly De La Cruz couldn’t come up with it cleanly as he charged in and it bounced off his glove and back towards the pitchers mound bringing in a run on the play. Lane Thomas then hit a 3-run home run. Another single followed, but Elly De La Cruz then made a sliding catch to his right and threw from his knee to second where Matt McLain completed turning a double play. The inning came to an end on a fly out to right, but it was 11-2.
The game was still 11-2 when the top of the 9th inning began. Elly De La Cruz led off with a single back up the middle off of Emmanuel Clase. Then Christian Encarnacion-Strand took a 97 MPH fastball off of the bill of his helmet. He got checked out by the trainer but remained in the game. Clase followed up by getting back-to-back fly outs before striking out Connor Joe to end the game and salvage one game in the season series with an 11-2 blowout win.
Key Moment of the Game
Carlos Santana’s grand slam in the 3rd inning that put Cleveland up 5-0.
Notes Worth Noting
The Reds only have five hits in the game. Cleveland had five players drive in a run in the game.
Cincinnati’s 1-2-3 hitters went 4-11 with a walk, a strikeout, and two home runs. The rest of the lineup went 1-20 with a walk and a hit by pitch.
In the “something that shouldn’t exist but does” category, Will Benson was named the MVP of the Ohio Cup. The Frank Robinson Award goes to Benson after he hit .474/.500/1.158 with four home runs and eight runs batted in during his five games played between the two teams.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Detroit Tigers
Friday June 13th, 7:10pm ET
Nick Martinez (4-6, 3.70 ERA) vs TBA
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