Cincinnati Reds Edge Cleveland Guardians 7-6 in Thrilling Ohio Showdown
CLEVELAND, OH — The Cincinnati Reds snapped a painful seven-game road skid Friday night, holding off a furious late rally by the Cleveland Guardians to secure a 7-6 victory in the first matchup of Ohio’s MLB rivals this season.
Second baseman Matt McLain delivered the decisive performance, driving in three runs—including a clutch two-run homer in the eighth—while also sealing the win with a game-saving defensive play.
Reds Nearly Blow Big Lead
Cincinnati appeared to be cruising toward an easy win after McLain’s eighth-inning blast extended their lead to 6-1. But the bullpen nearly unraveled in a chaotic bottom of the frame, issuing five walks, including two with the bases loaded.
Guardians rookie Travis Bazzana sparked the rally with an RBI single, cutting the deficit to 6-2. Reliever Brock Burke then walked two consecutive batters, forcing in runs, before José Ramírez’s sacrifice fly made it a one-run game.
The Reds escaped further damage but needed an insurance run in the ninth via JJ Bleday’s fielder’s choice. Even then, Cleveland threatened in the final inning, scoring once off reliever Tejay Antone before McLain’s diving stop at second base ended the game.
Abbott’s Stellar Start, Bibee’s Tough Luck
Reds starter Andrew Abbott (3-2) extended his scoreless streak to 21.2 innings before Rhys Hoskins broke through with a solo homer in the sixth. Abbott has now held Cleveland scoreless for 19 consecutive innings over three career starts.
On the other side, Guardians right-hander Tanner Bibee (0-6) endured another hard-luck outing. Despite a solid season (3.74 ERA), Bibee has received just 1.39 runs per game in support—the lowest in MLB among qualified starters.
Antone’s Emotional Save
The win marked a milestone for Tejay Antone, who recorded his first save since May 2021 after enduring three Tommy John surgeries. The 30-year-old righty, once a key piece of Cincinnati’s bullpen, has fought through years of rehab to return to form.
What’s Next?
The series continues Saturday with Reds RHP Chris Paddack (0-5, 7.63 ERA) facing Guardians lefty Joey Cantillo (3-1, 2.98), who was moved up a day in Cleveland’s rotation shuffle.
For Cincinnati, the victory provides momentum after a brutal road stretch. For Cleveland, missed opportunities—particularly with bases-loaded walks—proved costly in a game that slipped away late.
— Reported by Nexio News
