Guardians Hand Reds Ohio Cup Loss

  

Stephan Kwan had three hits and drove in two runs as the Cleveland Guardians clutched tightly to a 5-3 win in the first Ohio Cup contest.

Kwan extended his hitting streak to seven games and raised his season average to .380. He returned from the injured list on May 31.

"I definitely missed playing but since I came back, I'm sticking to a plan and a little bit of luck," Kwan said. "We have great technology and a great scouting report in Cleveland. I'm trying to get the mental AB. Things are obviously clicking right now but tomorrow is another day."

The Reds broke out with a run in the first, a run which shows the irony of the game. TJ Friedl singled on a ground ball that found a hole. Jeimer Candelario hit a ball off the end of the bat that snuck though inside the line for an RBI double. The next two batters, Spencer Steer and Jake Fraley hit the ball much harder but both were caught at the wall by centerfielder, Tyler Freeman. Steer's blast would have hit the top of the fence but Fraley's was plucked from the front row of the bleachers in right center.

"It was the first one I got to jump at the wall on," said Freeman who has been practicing the play. "The first one was more difficult. I kind of crashed into the wall. The second one was more like a jump."

The Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt thought it the catches changed  the game.

"I thought Freeman's first catch was unbelievable; fighting the sun and getting back there," Vogt said. "Any time you rob a homer, it's sick. Those were huge plays there. It could have gone a lot different if he didn't make those plays there. He keeps getting better and better."

Guardians didn't score against the opener, Brent Suter. Nick Martinez pitched a perfect second inning but the Guardians scored three times in the third inning. Brayan Rocchio walked to open the inning. Bo Naylor, the number nine hitter doubled with Rocchio holding at third. Steven Kwan doubled to put the Guardians ahead. Freeman singled Kwan to third. Josh Naylor singled to make it a 3-1 game.

"Nick Martinez was throwing the ball but they had tough at bats. There were a couple with 10 or more pitches. That's what this team (Guardians) does," David Bell said.

The Reds got a run back against Cleveland starter Triston McKenzie in the sixth inning. Elly De La Cruz walked. Candelario grounded back McKenzie but his only play was first base. Steer drove De La Cruz home with a single to left.

"I thought Triston came out throwing the ball well," Vogt said. "They took some good swings off him early but he settled in there. He battled through his outing. I don't think he was particularly sharp at times but that's what Triston does. He finds away to give us a chance to win."

Sam Moll, Lucas Sims, Justin Wilson and Fernando Cruz shut down the Guardians through seven.

"We came up short but it was a pretty good effort by everyone out of the bullpen," David Bell said. 

Josh Naylor hit his 17th home run of the season to lead of eighth. Cruz gave it up. He was relieved by Buck Farmer after a walk to David Fry.

The Indians scored another insurance run when Josh Naylor hit into a force play with the bases loaded in the ninth. 

The ninth inning was delayed by a fan running onto the field. He ran to Freeman in centerfield before he did a back flip and got tased before he was arrested.

"It was crazy," Freeman said. "I didn't know what to do. 

Emmanuel Clase got his 20th save in 22 chances for the Guardians but Jonathan India singled Stuart Fairchild home with two outs in the ninth. Clase hit Blake Dunn in the head to put the tying run on base. Friedl lined out to shortstop.

Dunn was hit in the helmet with a 101 mph pitch. It cracked the helmet but it did it's job.

"It is scary. You hate to see it happen to anybody but he's fine," Bell said.