Opportunistic Guardians coast past Reds in Ohio Cup rubber match

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 for the Guardians, while Steven Kwan collected two hits, a run and an RBI. Jose Ramirez added two hits and a run as Cleveland unleased a 12-hit attack to clinch a series win in the Ohio Cup matchup.

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 a fielding error by shortstop Elly De La Cruz to open the inning, and Ramirez followed by reaching on a fielder's choice when second baseman Edwin Arroyo was late to cover the bag.

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. 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.

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, and Kwan added a sacrifice fly later in the frame.

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, all unearned, 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