Matt McLain drove in three runs with a home run and a double to propel the Reds to a 7-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians.
"It is fun when you contribute like that to a win," McLain said. "It was just good to get back on track and back to my approach. That is all I'm trying to do. For it to show up today was a good feeling for me."
The win evened the Ohio Cup competition at one game apiece.
TJ Friedl had three hits, scored three runs and saved two.
The Reds opened the game against Noah Syndergaard with two hits that put them up to a quick lead. TJ Friedl hit a ground single up the middle for a single. Matt McLain lined a double to the left centerfield gap to score the speedy Friedl.
Andrew Abbott started for the Reds and allowed a hit in the first inning but struck out two. Brayan Rocchio opened the second inning with a single but with one out, Gabriel Arias hit a line drive that MaLain leaped to catch his throw to catch Rocchio but it was wide and hit off the dugout railing. Rocchio went to second on an apparent throwing error but the Reds appealed that he left early. First base umpire Jim Wolf signaled safe but the Reds got the call overturned when replays revealed that the runner past first base getting back and did not retouch on the way to second. It turned into a double play.
The Guardians tied the game in the third but Friedl made a play to prevent more damage. Myles Straw singled to start the inning. He advanced on a fly out to Friedl in deep center. Steven Kwan lined to left. Jose Ramirez tied the game with a solid single. Ramon Laureano hit a fly to deep center field. Friedl timed his leap and with his wrist above the 8'4" wall made the inning ending catch to keep the game tied.
"We practiced that today," Friedl revealed. "We literally lined up in shallow right field and set up the machine. While the pitchers and infielders were doing PFP we were working on robbing home runs. When I'm coming off the field I look at him (Collin Cowgill). When I'm running off the field he was ecstatic. I said that' because we worked on that today. Like what are the chances? Like once in a career. Like not very many chances."
The Reds have been struggling lately but at least for one game, they showed why the were the talk of the league leading into the All-Star break.
"I think a lot of different facets of the game," said Friedl, who had three singles, including a drag bunt hit. "Guys making plays in the infield things that we've done all season, getting on base, getting bunt down on a lefty. Those plays don't come very often."
The Reds took the lead in the bottom of the fourth Christian Encarnacion-Strand lined a single up the middle. Stuart Fairchild hit his fifth home run of the season into the leftfield stands. With two outs Friedl hit his second single of the game and stole second. McLain lined his 13th home run into the stands in left to put the Reds ahead 5-4.
Arias opened the fifth against Abbott with his seventh home run of the season.
The Reds loaded the bases against Syndergaard in the fifth with one out. Joey Votto singled, Encarnacion-Strand walked and Fairchild singled. Cleveland manager Terry Francona matched up left handed pitcher against Will Benson. Benson pulled a one-hop ground ball to Arias at first base. Arias stepped on first removing the force and threw home to get the slow footed Votto but catcher Bo Naylor dropped the ball and Votto scored.
Naylor was a replacement for Cam Gallagher, who took a hard foul ball off his mask. Gallagher is being checked for a concussion.
Fernando Cruz relieved Abbott to start the sixth. Abbott pitched five innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out seven and issued no walks.
The Guardians had four miscues to aid the Reds' cause. Friedl hit a drag-bunt single for his third hit. Norris was shaken up on the play but stayed in. McLain flew out and Elly De La Cruz struck out but Spencer Steer reached on an error by Ramirez at third. Votto singled past the shortstop to drive Friedl home. The throw got away from Naylor for another Guardian error charged to Straw. Encarnacion-Strand walked to load the bases but Eli Morgan retired Fairchild on a fly to center.
Fernando Cruz, Sam Moll, Derek Law and newcomer Alan Busenitz finished the game with four scoreless innings.
"Tonight was an opportunity that he (Abbott 8-3) could have gone six or seven innings. A lot that goes into the decision. The health and availability of our bullpen," David Bell said. "The individual pitcher and where they are in their season. Tonight it wasn't for a lack of thinking that Andrew could go back for another inning but you also look that if we do that he might have to work in 100, 105 pitches just to get out of the inning. We did have a rested bullpen and an off day tomorrow."
The catch played into Abbott's ability to make it through five innings.
"I think it was safe to say that me and Luke (Maile) both thought it was going to be a homer. Then is wasn't," Abbott said. "In the moment I think I threw my hands up and said oh my God. That's still my reaction. I might not have in the game as long. It would have been a different ballgame if he didn't make that catch."
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