Cincinnati was doing just fine, holding a lead multiple times throughout the game on Tuesday night, but all of that changed in the top of the 8th inning. Cleveland scored five runs against the Reds bullpen as the Guardians stormed back for a come-from-behind win in Goodyear.
The Highlights
Cincinnati would catch a break in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Spencer Steer reached on an error. Two pitches later that paid off for the Reds when Noelvi Marte hit a 425-foot 2-run home run to put the home team on top.
That’s where the score remained until the top of the 4th inning. Rhys Hoskins got Cleveland on the board with a long solo home run to cut Cincinnati’s lead to 2-1. In the next inning the Reds returned the earlier error when Kyle Manzardo reached on an error to put two men on to begin the inning after a leadoff walk. Travis Bazzana then inflicted some left-on-left crime against Nick Lodolo, lining a 2-run double to the wall in left-center to put the Guardians in the lead. After getting Steven Kwan to fly out, Nick Lodolo’s day came to an end and Easton Sikorski came on from the bullpen and got a groundout on the first pitch he threw to end the inning.
Cincinnati got some help in the bottom of the frame thanks to two walks and an error that led to a 2-out bases loaded for Elly De La Cruz. He came through, picking up a line drive single into left field that drove in the tying and go-ahead runs.
Graham Ashcraft came out for the top of the 6th inning and gave up a leadoff double. He got himself out of the jam by striking out the next three batters to end the inning. In the bottom of the inning the offense got to work. Ivan Johnson doubled into the gap at 111 MPH with one out to start a rally. Cam Collier followed up with a line drive just out of the reach of the second baseman that put runners on the corners. Yerlin Confidan then hit a 114 MPH line drive single to drive in Johnson and make it 5-3.
After a shutout inning in the 7th by Sam Moll the Reds sent Brock Burke to the mound to take over in the 8th inning and things went south for him quickly. He gave up a single to start the inning and then walked the next batter on four pitches. An RBI single by Nolan Jones followed. Cleveland then sent pinch-hitter Reiner Herrera to the plate and he tripled in two runs to give the Guardians the lead. Two more walks would follow before Burke left the mound having faced seven batters and gotten none of them out. Dylan Simmons entered the game with the bases loaded and a tall task being asked of him. Cleveland would then tack on two more runs on a sacrifice fly and a fielders choice, extending their lead to 8-5.
As it seems to have been happening a lot this spring, the prospects who came into the game after the starters wanted to and did show off. Alfredo Alcantara, who split his season in rookie-ball and Single-A last season, led off the bottom of the 9th with a 408-foot home run to left field to cut into the lead. That would be the only hit the Reds could get in the inning as the Guardians held on for an 8-6 win.
You can see the box score for this game here.
News and Notes
Nick Lodolo’s final line on the day: 4.2IP, 3H, 2ER, 1BB, 7K. He threw 77 pitches with 46 strikes while getting six groundouts and two fly outs.
Elly De La Cruz and Noelvi Marte were the only players in the starting lineup who recorded a hit for Cincinnati. Both of their hits drove in two runs.
Prospect Yerlin Confidan had two batted balls in the game. They were 114 MPH and 107 MPH. Both were hits (the second one was initially ruled a fielding error but changed a few minutes later).
In the World Baseball Classic it was Reds slugger Eugenio Suarez who came through with the go-ahead hit that produced what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the 9th inning as Venezuela beat Team USA to pick up their first WBC title.
Wednesday will see the Reds in Goodyear as they play host to the Colorado Rockies. They will also be on the road to take on the Los Angeles Angels as they have a split squad set of games. The afternoon contest in Goodyear is going to be available to watch on Reds.tv or MLB.tv and is currently listed as one of the Free Games of the day. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05pm ET. Expected to pitch in this game for the Reds: Brady Singer, Pierce Johnson, Graham Ashcraft, and Connor Phillips. The road game against the Angels is scheduled to begin at 4:10pm ET. Expected to pitch in this one for Cincinnati: Chase Burns, Sam Moll, and Luis Mey.
