The Cincinnati Reds pushed across the winning run on a bases-loaded walk to Mike Moustakas to defeat the host Cleveland Guardians 5-4 in 10 innings on Tuesday.
After Cleveland tied the game in the bottom of the ninth on a two-run homer from Owen Miller, Guardians reliever Nick Sandlin (3-2) retired the first Reds batter on a ground ball, but walked the next three batters in the 10th. Moustakas’ free pass drove in ghost runner Matt Reynolds for the go-ahead run.
The win went to Reds reliever Art Warren (2-1) , who blew a save opportunity in the ninth when he walked the first batter he faced, Jose Ramirez, and then allowed Miller’s blast to left-center. Warren got the next three batters.
The lost lead wasted a magnificent effort by 28-year-old Reds rookie Connor Overton, who retired 15 batters in a row at one point.
He exited after 7 2/3 innings, the longest outing of the season for a Reds starter. Overton allowed three hits, two runs, and one walk, and he struck out two.
Cincinnati reliever Alexis Diaz, also a rookie, earned the first save of his career despite a shaky 10th inning. After striking out the first two batters he faced, he walked Myles Straw and Steven Kwan to load the bases, before fanning Ramirez.
The Guardians trailed 3-1 going to the bottom of the eighth, but inched closer when Andres Gimenez opened with an infield single and stole second. After a two-out walk to pinch-hitter Franmil Reyes, Reds manager David Bell relieved Overton in favor of Tony Santillan. He allowed a run-scoring single by Straw, who finished with two RBIs.
However, Cincinnati manufactured a run in the ninth after two outs against closer Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase. Tyler Naquin bunted for an infield single and stole second base. He came home on Kyle Farmer’s third hit of the game for an important insurance run and a 4-2 lead.
Cincinnati pushed across a run in the sixth. A leadoff walk to Brandon Drury came back to haunt starter Zach Plesac. Drury moved to second on a single by Moustakas and came home on a base hit by Tyler Stephenson to give the Reds a 2-1 lead.
T.J. Friedl walked to lead off the eighth, stole second base and moved to third on a fly ball. He scored on Tommy Pham’s single for a 3-1 advantage.
The Reds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the third when Naquin, a former Guardians outfielder, hit his third home run of the season, an estimated 382 feet to right field.
Cleveland tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning. Richie Palacios and Oscar Mercado singled to start the inning. Palacios moved to third on a fielder’s choice by Austin Hedges and scored on a sacrifice fly by Straw.
Plesac pitched six strong innings and allowed two earned runs, six hits and two walks. He struck out three.
–Field Level Media
