Dateline: Cincinnati
Andrew Abbott held off the pesky Cleveland Guardians for five innings then watched as his teammates used drama to hold on for 7-6 win.
The Reds offense built a five run lead heading into the eighth inning but the bullpen lost the plate and walked five batters in the eighth inning to make it closer than it should have been.
"That's not how we drew it up. I think we did one more good thing than we did not good and fortunately that was enough," Terry Francona said. "We did so many good things and it just started going in the wrong direction and we couldn't stop it."
Tejay Antone, who is coming back from his third "Tommy John" surgery and Matt McLain AKA "Mighty Mouse" homered and ended the game with a fantastic diving stop in short right field and nipped the pesky Travis Bazzana at first base to end the game. It was close enough to review but the call was confirmed.
"Sometimes you look at the rankings," Francona said. "You look at the defensive analytics and it doesn't always love him (McLain). I don't understand it. He makes every (bleeping) play there is. I don't get it. He does it all the time."
It was Antone's first save since May 30, 2021 against the Chicago Cubs. Antone couldn't remember it. He thought his last was in Colorado and he shorted himself, thinking he only had two.
"Not walking guys, trying to stay in the zone. If you're in the zone they have to earn that win," Antone said.
The Reds scored first.
JJ Bleday led off the second inning with a double to the right field corner. Spencer Steer drilled a pitch to deep shortstop. Brayan Rocchio fielded it and Steer was called out by first base umpire Tyler Jones but the Reds appealed and it was over turned. Steer got a single as Bleday held. Nathaniel Lowe hit a hard single to center to load the bases. Tanner Bibee the Guardians start walked Matt McLain to force in a run. Tyler Stephenson hit a sacrifice fly to right and the Reds led, 2-0.
The Reds added a run in the fifth. Ke'Bryan Hayes singled and scored on Elly De La Cruz double off the wall in right center.
Abbott kept the Guardians away from home plate for five scoreless innings that stretched his scoreless streak to 21 2/3 innings. Also, he did not give up a run to Cleveland in his last 19 innings. He had two scoreless starts against them last season, including a complete game shutout.
"The key tonight was getting ahead of them and trying to make them swing at my stuff," Abbott said. "A couple of their guys a 13-pitch AB for one of them (Bazzana). I thought about throwing an eephus pitch up there. Credit to those guys for battling. I was able to step up and defense in the right spots, making plays. Elly and JJ making plays down the line were timely and I was able to take advantage of it."
Rhys Hoskins led off the sixth against Abbott with his fourth home run to break both streaks.
Pierce Johnson took over.
Abbott pitched five innings with one run on four hits, three walks. He struck out two.
Abbott labored through the five innings as Bazzana had two at bats, a 12-pitch and a 10-pitch that helped cut Abbott's night short.
Matt McLain opened the seventh with a single and with two outs, Benson walked. Bibee left the game. Matt Festa took over.
Bibee pitched 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk. He struck out two.
Festa hit De La Cruz to load the bases but Sal Stewart flied out to center.
Bleday led off the eighth with his third hit and second double of the game against reliever, Peyton Pallette. Steer followed with an RBI single. McLain hit his fifth home run of the season to give the Reds a 6-1 lead.
"He made a mistake over the middle of the plate and I put a good swing on it," McLain said. "I kinda got lucky. I thought it was going to hit off the top of the wall."
Tony Santillan gave up the third hit of the game for Jose Ramirez, a double with two outs in the seventh but turned in a scoreless inning. Graham Ashcraft opened the eighth for the Reds.
Ashcraft missed with 12 straight pitches, loading the bases with no outs. Travis Bazzana singled to score Hoskins. The Reds pulled Ashcraft and brought in Brock Burke with the bases loaded and no outs. Austin Hedges pinch hit for Patrick Bailey. Burke struck him out. Burke walked Rocchio to force in the third run for Cleveland. Kwan walked to force in the Guardians' fourth run of the game. Ramirez hit a sacrifice fly to center and made it a one-run game. Chase DeLauter flied out to end the inning.
The Guardians brought lefty Tim Herrin to pitch the ninth.
Dane Myers pinch hit for Benson. Myers doubled to open the inning. De La Cruz grounded to Rocchio up the middle and Myers moved to third. Stewart was walked intentionally to bring Bleday to the plate with runners on the corners. Bleday hit a slow ground ball that forced Stewart as Myers scored.
"I was really glad we got that insurance run in the ninth. That was huge," Francona said.
Tejay Antone came in to protect the two-run lead. He got Hoskins to pop up but Kyle Manzardo was credited with a triple that Myers, nearly caught after a long run. The ball hit his wrist as he reached for it. Angel Martinez grounded to Stewart at first base and Manzardo trotted home to make it a one-run game
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