Roberto Perez had four hits and broke a tie that Francisco Lindor created with two home runs. Shane Bieber controlled the Reds.
Perez hit his 16th home run with a man on off Michael Lorenzen in the eighth inning to give the Cleveland Indians a 7-2 win. The Indians extended their winning streak to five while snapping the Reds' three-game winning streak.
Lindor hit his 13th home run into the Reds' bullpen in right field to lead off the game against Anthony DeSclafani, the fourth time this season he started the Indians offense with a fence buster.
"The pitch was right where I wanted it, honestly," DeSclafani said. "It was three or four inches out of the strike zone. He just put a good swing on it."
Shane Bieber couldn't hold the lead for four batters. After two hard hit fly balls were caught in center field. Eugenio Suarez singled sharply to left. Yasiel Puig hit a low line drive to right field. It had just enough height to clear the fence for his 20th home run.
Puig had three hits, including a fence rattling double and raised his average to .253. A month ago he was languishing at .210.
"Puig is coming on strong," David Bell said. "We knew he was capable. He's been a better player in the second half of the season throughout his career. He hit the double harder than the home run."
Puig's 20-home run first half put him ahead of every season except for the 28 he hit in 2017 and the 23 he hit last year.
"This is the first time I hit 20 home runs at the All-Star break," Puig said. "This is the best first half of the season in my career. I am going to practice with my teammates and have a better second half."
Lindor hit his second home run of the game and 14th for the season, high off the foul pole in right field to tie the score.
DeSclafani wiggled out of a bases loaded jam with the help of a brilliant diving stop by shortstop Jose Iglesias. Carlos Santana hit a ball hard up the middle. Iglesias playing on the second base side of the diamond gloved the ball mid dive. He was able to lift his body just enough to get off a throw to the stretching Joey Votto. First base umpire David Rackley ruled Santana safe but Votto summoned the dugout to challenge the call. Santana was ruled out. Jason Kipnis singled. One out later Jake Bauers walked. Roberto Perez second of three singles in the game was fielded by Puig, who prevented Kipnis from running. Tyler Naquin flied out to right.
"Desco pitched a pretty good game," Bell said. "He gave us a chance to win."
Like Puig he has shaken off a subpar start in the first season that wasn't delayed by injury in the last four years.
"I've made some progress," DeSclafani said. "I have to come up with some better plans and continue to progress. We are close at the break so we are all encouraged about the second half."
Cleveland loaded the bases again in the sixth inning. DeSclafani caught Jose Ramirez looking for the third time. It was the second out of the inning. Bauers singled. Perez hit a high chop bouncer into center field. Nick Senzel nearly threw Bauers out at third. Bauers got a safe call from Chad Whitson that held up under review. The Reds ordered Tyler Naquin walked to go after Bieber, who grounded to short. Pui
Bieber retired 16 of 17 Reds, eight each surrounding a double by Puig.
The Reds went to Michael Lorenzen in the seventh inning. DeSclafani allowed seven hits and two runs. He walked two but one was intentional and struck out six.
Puig singled to the hole at shortstop to start the bottom of the seventh. Ramirez throwing error put him on second but Bieber struck out Derek Dietrich. Senzel hit a bouncer to the mound and Puig was caught going to third. Iglesias flied out to left.
Ramirez doubled with one out. Lorenzen struck out Bauers on a foul tip. Perez hit a towering drive into the seats in right for his fourth hit of the game.
Bieber protected the lead in the eighth. Bobby Bradley hit for Bieber in the top of the ninth against Matt Bowman. Bradley hit a lead off double and left for pinch runner Greg Allen. Lindor grounded to second to send Allen to third. Oscar Mercado hit a line drive toward Bowman. The pitcher knocked it down, held Allen and threw to first to get Mercado for the second out. The Reds walked Santana. Kipnis walked to load the bases. Ramirez worked a full count, then took ball four to drive in a run. Bauers second hit of the game made put the Indians up by five. The Reds got a moral victory by getting Perez out for the first time on a ground ball.
Nick Goody pitched the ninth for Cleveland.
Votto doubled for the 389th time to tie Dave Concepcion for third on the Reds career list.
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