Opportunistic Guardians coast past Reds in Ohio rubber match

Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez (11) hits a base hit in the third inning between the Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. Kyle Manzardo homered and drove in two runs and Travis Bazzana had two hits, a run and an RBI as the visiting Cleveland Guardians defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-1 on Wednesday. Gabriel Arias went 2-for-4 with a double, a run and an RBI, while Steven Kwan collected two hits, a run and an RBI. Jose Ramirez added two hits and a run in Cleveland's 12-hit attack which clinched a series win in the clash of Ohio-based teams. Erik Sabrowski (4-2) earned the win after striking out both batters he faced to escape a jam he was brought into during the sixth inning. The Guardians broke through in the fifth, scoring four runs on just one hit. Kwan reached on an Elly De La Cruz fielding error to open the inning, and Ramirez followed by reaching on a fielder's choice when Edwin Arroyo was late to cover second base. Chase DeLauter walked to load the bases before Bazzana lined an RBI single to left. Brayan Rocchio then struck out, but Manzardo drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run. Gabriel Arias coaxed another bases-loaded walk to make it 3-0 and chase Cincinnati starter Brady Singer (5-10). Caleb Ferguson entered, and Patrick Bailey capped the inning's scoring with a sacrifice fly that scored Bazzana for a 4-0 lead. Cincinnati cut its deficit to 4-1 in the sixth when Noelvi Marte's high chopper found its way into center for an RBI single. But Cleveland answered right back in the seventh, stretching its lead to 6-1. Manzardo launched his 13th homer of the season, a 425-foot solo shot to right-center to lead off the inning, then Kwan added a sacrifice fly with one out. Earlier, Kwan and Ramirez opened the third with singles before DeLauter struck out swinging. Bazzana roped a single up the middle to load the bases, but Rocchio fouled out and Manzardo grounded out to end the threat. Singer allowed four runs on six hits with four walks and three strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings. Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo yielded four hits, walked one and struck out eight in four scoreless innings. --Field Level Media