After dropping a tense opener, Cincinnati relied on a dominant bullpen and Dane Myers’ spectacular defensive heroics to stifle Cleveland’s late-inning rally and force a pivotal series finale.
The Cincinnati Reds salvaged one of two games against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday. Following a weather-related rainout Monday, the Ohio Cup featured a doubleheader Tuesday. The Guardians used a Reds error and an overturned hit-by-pitch call to attack Chase Burns, as Kyle Manzardo's grand slam helped Cleveland to a 6-5 win after scoring a late run.
Burns said after the game that he felt he didn't have command of his slider, and Cleveland took advantage.
In Game 2, it was a different story. In the first inning, JJ Bleday hit a line-drive home run eight rows deep into the Moon Deck in right field to give the Reds a 1-0 lead. It was Bleday's 18th home run of the season, and he is hitting just over .230 as the Reds front office weighs whether to trade the former first-round pick.
Caleb Ferguson got the start as the opener. After a quick first inning, he got himself into trouble in the second with runners on the corners and one out. After striking out Gabriel Arias, he was pulled after just 27 pitches. Julian Garcia forced a groundout to end the inning three pitches later.
Gavin Williams hunkered down and threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings following Bleday's homerun, until the fifth. After Dane Myers walked and stole second, Jose Trevino advanced him to third on a groundout to the pitcher. Williams then spiked a two-strike slider into the ground, sending the ball to the backstop, and Myers scored easily. Cincinnati led 2-0.
Meanwhile, the Reds bullpen continued to dominate when it was needed most. Playing the second game of the day, Cincinnati used a bullpen game. Through the seventh inning, Cincinnati pitchers Caleb Ferguson, Julian Garcia and Jose Franco had allowed just two hits and no runs. Franco left the game with right elbow discomfort in the seventh.
Tejay Antone entered in relief and worked scoreless seventh and eighth innings. Emilio Pagán allowed a one-out single to Gabriel Arias before striking out Patrick Bailey. With two outs, Petey Halpin stepped to the plate and pulled a hard-hit ball into the air in right-center field. Reds center fielder Dane Myers leaped at the wall and made the catch to end the game.
Myers' gritty play and hustle were a huge reason the Reds came away with the victory. A quality at-bat that resulted in a walk, a stolen base and heads-up baserunning to score on a wild pitch all proved significant. None, however, was bigger than the game-ending catch.
Myers has quietly turned into an everyday center fielder for the Reds, hitting .267 while providing a reliable glove in the field.
Cincinnati can win its fourth consecutive series with a victory over the Guardians on Wednesday night.
