Reds Hang With First Place Buzz Saw

The Reds tried to forge a tie for the 2018 Ohio Cup with a win over the Cleveland Indians tonight.

Cincinnati won two of the three games in Cleveland a month ago, including a stirring come-from-behind win in which the Reds erased a 4-0 ninth inning deficit with a seven run inning with two outs.

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Cleveland manager Terry Francona asked for "OP" meaning left-hander Oliver Perez but his words were heard as "OT" meaning right-hander Daniel Otero.  Joey Votto cleared the bases with a double to give the Reds the lead.

Since then the Indians have punished the Reds.  They won the next night, 19-4.  They started the current series in Cincinnati by winning the first two games, 10-3 and 8-1 with a combination of bunching base hits and the top notch pitching of Corey Kluber, who won his 15th game of the season.

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Reds manager Jim Riggleman had a message for his players after the 8-1 setback.

The Reds even with the two straight losses to the American League Central leading Indians are 15-8 in their meetings with teams in first place at the time the Reds played them.
Riggleman had to remind the team.

"I talked to the club, I just told them to remember who we are," Riggleman said.  "We've run into a Pittsburgh club right after the All-Star break and a Cleveland club right here that is really hot.  They are good clubs.  Sometimes you run into a little bit of a buzz saw. Let's not forget we're a good club.  We are getting beat around a little bit but we've beaten these good clubs.  That's got to stay in your recent memories.  We've beaten these first place clubs.  If you're playing first place clubs and they're playing at a high level it's tough."

"Last night we faced a good offense with Kluber pitching at the top of his game.  That's World Series stuff," Riggleman said.