Reds vs Guardians Recap: Late rally falls short in 7-4 Guardians win

The Cincinnati Reds visited the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday at their home stadium looking to bounce back. Cincinnati came into the game riding on momentum after a wild 7-6 victory on Friday. However, the Guardians had their own agenda and wanted to even the series. When the dust settled, Cleveland pulled away for a convincing 7-4 victory. The game featured plenty of scoring, with both teams trading runs throughout the afternoon. Although the Reds showed resilience by scoring multiple times, the Guardians' powerful offense proved too much to handle. This victory gave Cleveland a winning streak heading into the final game of the series.

In the second inning, Cleveland jumped on top when Rocchio singled to left field. His hit brought Kwan and Martínez across home plate, giving the Guardians a 2-0 lead. The Reds didn't wait long to respond. Myers launched a towering home run over the right field wall in the third inning, bringing Cincinnati within one run at 2-1. Both teams traded momentum back and forth early on. The fifth inning became crucial when Stewart walked with the bases loaded, scoring Dunn and tying the game. Then Steer doubled deep to center, driving in two more runs and giving Cincinnati a 4-2 advantage. This dramatic fifth inning completely shifted the game's direction.

Cleveland's powerful bats came alive in the sixth and seventh innings. A wild pitch allowed Kwan to score, while Hoskins hit a sacrifice fly that brought Martínez home, tying the game at 4-4. Then Martínez smashed a massive home run to right-center field that traveled 395 feet, sending Manzardo across the plate and giving Cleveland a 6-4 lead. In the eighth inning, an error by the Reds pitcher allowed another run to score, extending the Guardians' advantage to 7-4. Cincinnati couldn't mount another comeback, and the Guardians held firm through the final inning. This victory improved Cleveland's record and showed their ability to strike when opportunities presented themselves.