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Reds 4 Guardians 2
Tyler Mahle continued the recent trend of Reds starting pitchers going deeper into games and bought the offense time to kick in and deliver a three 8th inning that broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Reds a 4-2 win Thursday afternoon in Cleveland. The Reds sweep the two game series and split the four game Ohio Cup.
The Reds have won 5 of their last 7 games, 7 of 10 and 8 of 12 since the 3-22 start.
Mahle: 6.1 IN, 2 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 105 pitches/67 strikes. He was done after 1 out walk in 7th inning. His longest and probably his best outing of the season.
Rotational length: After beginning the season with 31 games without a 6-inning start, the most since 1893, Reds starters have thrown at least 6.0 innings in three straight starts and 5 of their last 6 starts.
Go ahead/add-on: 1-1 in the 8th inning, Tyler Naquin-Colin Moran-Kyle Farmer produced three straight singles and each scored.
Farmer's single score Naquin. Albert Almora Jr.'s sacrifice scored pinch-runner Matt Reynolds. TJ Friedl's sacrifice fly scored Farmer.
Streakin': Naquin clobbered a 423-foot homer in the 5th inning to get the Reds on the board and even the score (1-1).
He also lined a leadoff single in the 8th inning. He entered the game 12 for his last 29 (.414). He was named Most Outstanding Player in the Ohio Cup series.
Trouble sidestepped: Luis Cessa come on following Mahle's walk in the 7th inning and promptly walked his first batter to put 2 on with 1 out. But he escaped the jam.
Trouble found/answered: Rookie Alexis Diaz, who walked two batters in the 10th inning Tuesday night, walked two batters and allowed an RBI single by Jose Ramirez to make it 4-2 with one out in the 8th today. He was done. But Tony Santillan bailed him out by rolling an inning ending 6-4-3 DP. He added the 9th for the save.
Snap out of it: Colin Moran delivered a two hit day. He snapped an 0 for 10 skid.
Glove love: TJ Friedl made a whale of a sliding catch along the right field foul line in the 1st inning. Albert Almora Jr. made a leaping catch up against the wall in center field for a nice catch to take extra-bases away. Tommy Pham make a nice running catch near the foul screen down the left-field line.
Golden Rule broken: Trailing 1-0 with 0 outs, Brandon Drury was throw out attempting to go first-to-third on a 4th inning single by Pham.
Hammer Time: Per Bally Sports, Pham is hitting the ball harder than any hitter in the NL with 94.3 mph exit velocity.