Cincinnati took an early lead in the 2nd inning when Will Benson hit a 3-run home run as a part of a 2-hit day for the outfielder. The Reds would take on a run later in the inning and then another in the 3rd and while Cleveland was able to make a game out of it the Guardians couldn’t quite pull off the comeback as Cincinnati took the first game in the 3-game series by a 5-4 score.
Final
R
H
E
Cleveland Guardians (25-19)
4
5
1
Cincinnati Reds (22-24)
5
11
0
W: Singer (5-2) L: Bibee (3-4) SV: Pagan (10)
Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread
The game was moved up by 90 minutes in an effort to try and get the game completed before some nasty thunderstorms were expected to roll through in the evening. Cincinnati didn’t take too long to grab an early lead. In the bottom of the second inning Gavin Lux led off with a single and moved to third on a double by Spencer Steer. Will Benson then took a hanging breaking ball and deposited it into the seats in right field to put his team up 3-0. Matt McLain followed up with a single and then later scored on an infield hit by Santiago Espinal that included a throwing error.
The next inning saw the Reds tack on another run when Austin Hays crushed his 6th home run of the season to begin the inning, making it 5-0. Brady Singer gave two runs back to Cleveland in the 4th. He would walk the leadoff batter, but then retire the next two. The Guardians rallied and put together a double and then a 2-run single to cut the lead for the Reds to three runs. Cleveland picked up another run in the 5th inning on a solo home run by Bo Naylor.
Taylor Rogers took the mound for the Reds to begin the 6th inning against the heart of the Guardians order. He needed just 12 pitches to get through the inning. Graham Ashcraft took over in the 7th and even while giving up a hit and facing four batters in the inning, he needed just five pitches to get three outs and hold onto a 5-3 lead.
With Tony Santillan on the mound in the 8th inning the Guardians made it a 1-run game when Jose Ramirez crushed a 2-out solo home run about 17 rows deep into the stands down the right field line. That would be the final hit of the day for Cleveland as Emilio Pagan took over in the top of the 9th inning and took care of the rest in a 1-2-3 inning to pick up his 10th save by finishing off a 5-4 win.
Key Moment of the Game
Will Benson’s 3-run home run. It felt like a tone setter on the day, particularly in a game that felt like it needed to get done quickly to beat the incoming storms that led to first pitch being moved up by 90 minutes.
Notes Worth Noting
Will Benson, Austin Hays, and Gavin Lux all had 2-hit games. Elly De La Cruz got on base twice thanks to a walk and a single, and he also stole his 15th base of the year.
Rhett Lowder is scheduled to make a rehab start tonight with Louisville, but the game is being delayed by a thunderstorm in Indianapolis right now. We’ll have a report on the game later if the teams are able to take the field tonight.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cleveland Guardians vs Cincinnati Reds
Saturday, May 16th, 6:40pm ET
TBA vs Chase Petty (0-2, 21.94 ERA)
