Reds Survive Brutal Bullpen Innings, Edge Guardians 7-6

The Cincinnati Reds hammered out a 7-6 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday, snapping a seven-game road skid in the season’s first Ohio clash. Matt McLain led the way, driving in three runs—including a clutch two-run homer in the eighth.

Cincinnati fought off a chaotic late inning and barely held on after a tense finish. Tejay Antone’s story stood out too, as he logged his first save since May 30, 2021 after three Tommy John surgeries.

Andrew Abbott started strong, stretching his scoreless innings to 21 2/3 before a sixth-inning homer broke the streak.

Reds snap road skid in a back-and-forth Ohio showdown

Cincinnati jumped out with a comfortable cushion, pushing the lead to 6-1 thanks to a productive offense. The real drama hit in the eighth, when the Guardians mounted a fierce rally and Cincinnati’s bullpen almost let the win slip away.

Cleveland chipped away, cutting the deficit to a single run before the Reds finally slammed the door in the ninth.

McLain fuels the offense and late insurance

Matt McLain really carried the offense, picking up three RBIs and launching a two-run homer in the eighth that pushed the lead to 6-1. The Reds tacked on an insurance run in the ninth with a JJ Bleday fielder’s choice, giving them just a bit more breathing room as the Guardians kept pressing.

Elly De La Cruz chipped in too, cracking an RBI double off Tanner Bibee, who’s had his struggles lately when the run support disappears.

• McLain: three RBIs, two-run homer in the eighth
• De La Cruz: RBI double, adding to Cincinnati’s early advantage
• Reds bullpen: late-inning chaos as Cleveland manufactured runs

Bullpen chaos in the eighth that nearly erased the lead

The eighth inning got wild. Graham Ashcraft walked the bases loaded, and Travis Bazzana followed with an RBI single to cut it to 6-2.

Brock Burke came in, struck out a batter, but then handed out two bases-loaded walks—forcing in two more runs. José Ramírez added a sacrifice fly, trimming the gap to just one. The Guardians drew four four-pitch walks in that frame, narrowing what once looked like a safe lead for the Reds.

Antone seals the save after a tense ninth

Tejay Antone came on with everything on the line, pitching in his first save since May 2021 after three Tommy John surgeries. He gave up a run in the ninth but got the final out thanks to a diving stop by Matt McLain at second, who tagged out Bazzana to end the threat.

That last bit of grit kept Cincinnati’s one-run edge intact and locked up the win.

Starting pitchers provide durable depth; next-up looms

Andrew Abbott kept his scoreless streak alive into the sixth, reaching 21 2/3 innings before Rhys Hoskins finally broke through with a homer. On the other side, Tanner Bibee made Reds hitters work, even as he gave up a key hit to De La Cruz.

The Reds leaned on timely hitting and their young core, even as the bullpen’s rough patch nearly flipped the script. You could almost feel the tension in every pitch down the stretch.

Looking ahead: next game plans and matchups

For the middle game, the Reds will send Chris Paddack (0-5, 7.63) to the mound. He’ll face off against Joey Cantillo (3-1, 2.98).

Cantillo’s swapping spots with Gavin Williams for Sunday’s start. That switch sets up a pretty intriguing pitching matchup as Cincinnati tries to keep rolling on this Ohio swing.

The Reds have a bit of momentum now. They’re hungry to show they can win on the road and keep this hot streak alive against divisional rivals.

 
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