The irony is the Indians will be no closer to American League Central leading Minnesota Twins than the last place Reds to either Milwaukee or Chicago at 41-46.
If Minnesota beats Texas, the Indians will be 6-1/2 games out. If Texas wins the Indians will trail by 5-1/2. The Reds will be either stay at 4-1/2 out if Milwaukee and Chicago both lose. They will be five games out if Milwaukee wins and Chicago loses and 5-1/2 if Chicago wins.
"It was just two games," David Bell said. "They were big games for us but two games doesn't take away what we did, which was give us a chance and set us up for the second half. What helps us is our ability to bounce back. The team that bounces back the best is the team that will win this division."
Reds' starter Tyler Mahle and Indians starter Trevor Bauer were locked in a scoreless duel for three innings.
Mahle had to pitch out of a bases loaded jam in the third to keep it that way. He struck out Bauer to start the inning but Francisco Lindor and Greg Allen found holes in the infield with a pair of ground balls. The dangerous Carlos Santana walked to load the bases. Mahle reached for a little extra and struck out Jason Kipnis and Jose Ramirez swinging.
"I had to battle through the third inning," Mahle said. "I think that was one of the reasons, I was taken out in the fifth. With a 1-0 ballgame, my spot is coming up the next inning. I was going to get hit for anyway. Usually, when you keep battling out of jams, eventually they are going to get you."
Bauer pitched around a single and two walks to keep the Reds' off the scoreboard.
Mahle retired the first two batters of the fourth but Tyler Naquin hit a long home run to right, his seventh to break the deadlock.
The Indians ambushed Mahle in the fifth. Allen singled for the second time; Sanatana walked for the second time. Jared Hughes replaced Mahle. Kipnis bunted to move the runners up. Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly to center field but Jake Bauers blew the game open with a two-run home run off the batter's eye in center.
The Reds seized one run back in the bottom of the inning. Jose Peraza singled off Bauer. Josh VanMeter hit a run scoring double to left center. He took third on the throw by Lindor that got past Roberto Perez. Perez was shaken up when he leaped for Lindor's throw and undercut by Peraza's slide.
Cleveland added a run in the seventh. Allen's third hit of the game was a triple of Robert Stephenson. He scored on Kipnis' single off David Hernandez.
They have won the last seven games they've played in Great American Ball Park to win their second straight Ohio Cup and fourth in their last five. The teams tied in 2017. The last Reds' winning series was in 2014.
The Indians added six more runs in the eighth three off Hernandez and three off Jimmy Herget, making his first Major League appearance.
Allen hit a two-run home run, his second of the season and Kipnis hit his seventh both off Herget in the inning.
Nick Senzel left the game in the second inning with a right ankle sprain. He caught his spikes on the padding in right center, chasing Santana's double off the wall.
"Senzel hurt his same ankle but it is not as bad. I think he will be ready right after the break,"Bell said.
"It's a close group I told them to enjoy the time with their family but I know they will look forward to getting together again as a group," Bell said.
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