CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Guardians offense uncharacteristically hit three home runs to open the two-game set against the Reds, but even that wasn’t enough to secure the Ohio Cup.
The Guardians hit three homers in the first three innings of a game for the first time since July 28th, 2021, a 7-2 victory over the Cardinals.
“We swung the bat very well,” manager Terry Francona said. “They swung it a little better.”
Cleveland put three runs on the board in the second and third innings off Reds starter Hunter Greene. Catcher Bo Naylor launched his 10th homer of the season in the second to give Cleveland a 3-0 lead.
Then in the third, Kole Calhoun and Andres Gimenez hit back-to-back homers to regain the advantage. It’s the fourth time this season the Guardians have hit two long balls in a row.
Gimenez left Tuesday’s game after he fouled a ball off his right knee in the bottom of the seventh inning. He struggled to put weight on it but was able to continue with the at-bat. He was replaced by Jose Tena in the next inning.
“We’ll get him x-rayed, but he’s a tough kid, man,” Francona said. “I know that one hurt.”
Tena came in to play shortstop and Tyler Freeman was moved to second base. Freeman replaced Gabriel Arias in the third inning who was dealing with right wrist soreness.
“When he missed a pitch is when he felt it,” Francona said. “We’re gonna get him MRI’d tomorrow. The problem is I think the trainers think it’s going to come back clean, but even if it does if he can’t play, it’s hard to envision him playing the next couple [of games].”
It was Arias’ first time back in the lineup since leaving Saturday’s game against the Orioles with a bruised wrist.
Cleveland’s offense recorded one more run on two hits after the third inning. 17 of the last 18 Cleveland batters were retired.
Most of the damage against Lucas Giolito came in the third inning. Former Guardian Luke Maile opened the frame with a 375-foot homer that hit the railing just above the left field wall.
“I need to command my fastball at the top which has kind of been like a theme the last couple months,” Giolito said. “I’m just not doing that consistently enough. Just lack of feel and lack of release point, so spraying pitches and getting into trouble.”
Maile went 3-4 on the night with a homer and two singles. It’s just his seventh career three-hit game. The catcher also recorded the sixth stolen base of his eight-year career.
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The third inning was capped by a three-run home run by rookie Christian Encarnacion-Strand. Giolito ended the third by recording his 200th strikeout of the season. He’s one of seven MLB pitchers to have tallied 200-plus strikeouts in three or more separate seasons.
“It doesn’t mean much,” Giolito said. “I might have one more so go out and finish strong. We’ll see what happens.”
He was taken out in the fourth inning after giving up a lead-off homer to Elly De La Cruz and walking two batters. De La Cruz clubbed another home run in the ninth inning. It was a 467-foot moonshot to right field that was hit 119.2 mph off the bat. It was the second-hardest hit ball in the Statcast Era at Progressive Field, and it’s the first two home run game of his career.
Gioltio gave up five earned runs on four hits in his third career start against Cincinnati. He also walked five batters and had five strikeouts in his 3⅓ innings of work.
“Command was tough right from the get-go,” Francona said. “A lot of balls in the dirt. Between balls leaving the ballpark and walks, that makes for a tough outing.”
Cincinnati’s third lead-off homer and fourth of five total was hit off the bat of TJ Friedl in the sixth inning. It was his 18th of the year and he’s homered in four straight games. He’s the first Reds’ player to hit a home run in four consecutive games since 2021.
The 26th edition of the Ohio Cup will now be decided in Wednesday’s game which will be the Guardians' (74-84) final home game of the season. The Reds (81-77) could win the trophy, or the Guardians could retain it by tying the season series. Cleveland has won the Ohio Cup outright 11 times and retained the cup in eight straight seasons.
The first 20,000 fans in attendance will receive “Thank You, Tito” shirts in anticipation of it being Francona’s final home game as manager. Making his second start since returning from the 60-day injured list will be Shane Bieber (5-6, 3.91 ERA).