CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Once again starter Cal Quantrill didn’t get much support from his teammates.
And the Guardians lost again.
Quantrill was sensational for seven innings, but a three run eighth allowed by Guardians reliever Trevor Stephan, including a critical throwing error, allowed the Reds to sweep the brief two-game series and split the 2022 ‘Ohio Cup’ with a 4-2 victory Thursday afternoon at Progressive Field.
“Just a frustrating day,” Stephan said following the game.
Quantrill made just one mistake – a solo home run to Reds DH Tyler Naquin, who tied the game at 1 with a 423-foot blast to the bleachers in left field in the top of the fifth. It was Naquin’s second homer in as many games in Cleveland and third against his former team this season.
“I thought he as terrific,” manager Terry Francona said. “The run, Naquin got a changeup. It was a really nice piece of hitting. I thought Cal was really good. He’s starting to get into a rhythm, which is good.”
Quantrill, who has received two or fewer runs of support in each of his last six starts, allowed one run on five hits with five strikeouts and did not factor in the decision.
“The run support doesn’t bother me. It doesn’t change how I pitch,” Quantrill said. “I think good pitchers, yes if you get ahead by a lot you might change your gameplan a touch but I think you attack hitters and keep them from scoring runs.
“We do our best. I thought today we put together a lot of good at-bats, we just couldn’t get any across the plate and that’s kind of part of it. I don’t worry too much about the run support.
With the game tied in the top of the eighth, Stephen came on in relief and allowed three straight singles to start the inning to Naquin, Colin Moran and Kyle Farmer, who gave Cincinnati a 2-1 lead with a single that scored Naquin.
Albert Amora Jr. laid down a sacrifice bunt that Stephen fielded cleanly and then threw by first baseman Owen Miller allowing a run to score to make it 3-1 Reds. Almora was thrown out trying to advance to second by Miller.
“Just went to field the bunt and [I] airmailed it,” Stephan said.
TJ Friedl followed with an RBI single to extend Cincinnati’s advantage to 4-1.
Stephen departed after walking Brandon Drury, but Eli Morgan came on to strike out Tony Pham to finally end the inning.
“Obviously you want to back up Cal’s outing, that was the best he’s pitched all year,” Stephen said. “His stuff was great today. Honestly he deserved to win with how he pitched but I didn’t do my job today and have to turn the page and get it tomorrow.”
In the bottom of the eighth with a pair of runners aboard thanks to a pair of walks, Jose Ramirez fouled a ball off his right shin.
After being tended to by trainers and needing several minutes to regain himself, he stepped in the box and slapped an RBI single to right to cut the Reds lead to 4-2.
“He’s not only really good but he’s really tough,” Francona said.
Ramirez, who underwent X-rays after the game according to Francona, was lifted for pinch runner Ernie Clement and runners at the corners with one out.
“[He’s] Pretty sore,” Francona said. “Hit him above his pad and just below his knee. For hm to react like that, he’s a pretty tough kid.”
Miller grounded into a double play to end the inning.
In the fourth inning, Guardians center fielder Myles Straw threw out Drury, who led off with a single, trying to advance to third on Tommy Pham’s single. It was the seventh outfield assist of the season for Straw and helped to short circuit any chance of a Reds rally.
Cincinnati starter Tyler Mahle, who also didn’t factor in the decision, was equally outstanding allowing a run on two hits with four strikeouts and two walks in six and 1/3 innings.
“We just have to keep fighting and trying to go first to third and get rallies going because you’re not going to score every time,” Francona said. “We know that.”
