Reds blow lead, hit into 5 double plays and edge Guardians

May 17, 2022, 6:45 AM | Updated: 8:02 pm

Cincinnati Reds' Mike Moustakas reacts after being walked by Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Nic...

Cincinnati Reds' Mike Moustakas reacts after being walked by Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Nick Sandlin with the bases loaded during the 10th inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

(AP Photo/Ron Schwane)


              Cincinnati Reds' Mike Moustakas reacts after being walked by Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Nick Sandlin with the bases loaded during the 10th inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Naquin (12) and Mike Moustakas (9) celebrate the team's 5-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians in 10 innings in a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Alexis Díaz celebrates the team's 5-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians in 10 innings in a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl steals second base as Cleveland Guardians' Andrés Giménez waits for the throw during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cleveland Guardians' Amed Rosario throws to first after forcing out Cincinnati Reds' Kyle Farmer at second base, for the out on TJ Friedl at first base to complete a double play during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Connor Overton throws out Cleveland Guardians' Owen Miller at first base during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cincinnati Reds' Matt Reynolds throws out Cleveland Guardians' Austin Hedges at first base during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez tags out Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Stephenson between first and second during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cincinnati Reds' Tyler Stephenson hits an RBI single against the Cleveland Guardians during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Zach Plesac throws to a Cincinnati Reds batter during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Connor Overton throws to a Cleveland Guardians batter during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cleveland Guardians' Owen Miller hits a two-run home run against the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)
            
              Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl (29) celebrates with Mike Moustakas (9) after scoring on a single by Tommy Pham against the Cleveland Guardians during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds made unwanted history two days ago by not allowing a hit and losing. On Tuesday night, they hit into five double plays, blew the lead in the ninth inning and scored the winning run without making contact.

“That’s baseball, man,” said rookie starter Connor Overton. “That was a fun game. It was wild.”

Mike Moustakas drew the third straight walk in the 10th by Cleveland reliever Nick Sandlin to force in a run, and Reds rookie reliever Alexis Díaz struck out Guardians star José Ramírez for the final out with the bases loaded as the Reds held on for a 5-4 win.

Moustakas was down to his last strike before taking three straight pitches from Sandlin (3-2) to bring in Matt Reynolds, who started the inning at second base.

Art Warren (2-1) got the win for Cincinnati despite giving up Owen Miller’s tying, two-run homer in the ninth.

And Díaz, a 25-year-old who pitched in Double-A last season, survived a nerve-wracking 10th — he walked two and threw a wild pitch that nearly let the tying run score — before handcuffing Ramírez for strike three and his first career save.

“His stuff is unbelievable,” Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson said as his teammates could be heard celebrating with Díaz in the showers. “He got better with Ramírez, when the moment was bigger for him. He did a great job.”

Díaz has not given up a run in 15 of his 16 appearances.

“He’s not fazed,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Obviously, he had a lot of adrenaline tonight, but he channeled that really well and he went after some really good hitters in a tough spot. Great stuff, but the thing that was really impressive is that he walked a couple of guys and then one of the best hitters in the game, got behind and then just made incredible pitches.”

Tyler Naquin homered for the Reds (10-26), who became the last team in the majors to reach double-digit wins — after blowing a 4-2 lead in the ninth and hitting into double plays in four straight innings.

“This game is an example of you just have to keep playing,” Bell said.

Miller’s towering two-run homer into the left-field bleachers off Warren tied it 4-4.

The Guardians had managed just four singles over the first eight innings against rookie Connor Overton and reliever Tony Santillan before Miller followed a leadoff walk to Ramírez with his fourth homer.

Miller’s heroics snatched a win from Overton.

The right-hander allowed just three singles over 7 2/3 innings in Cincinnati’s second straight stellar start. Overton allowed back-to-back hits in the third, retired 15 straight and then gave up a leadoff infield single in the eighth.

Overton got two outs but walked pinch-hitter Franmil Reyes and was pulled by Bell after a career-high 98 pitches.

“I want to go nine (innings) every time,” Overton said. “Obviously, I’m happy but there’s a lot I could have done better.”

His performance came two days after Cincinnati rookie starter Hunter Greene and Warren combined to work eight no-hit innings in a 1-0 loss at Pittsburgh.

The Reds were just the sixth team in the modern era to lose despite not allowing a hit.

The Guardians played their fourth straight game without manager Terry Francona, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week in Chicago and also missed the three-game weekend series in Minnesota.

Acting manager and pitching coach Carl Willis said the 63-year-old Francona is feeling better and nearing a return.

Cleveland first baseman Josh Naylor also remains out.

Naquin, who spent five seasons with Cleveland, gave the Reds a 1-0 lead with his third homer — a shot into the right-field seats off Zach Plesac.

HELP WANTED

Plesac, who gave up two runs in six innings, hasn’t gotten much run support.

The Guardians have scored 11 runs in his seven starts, a huge departure from the past three seasons when Cleveland averaged 5.28 runs per nine innings for him.

RARE AIR

Guardians reliever Bryan Shaw made his 475th career appearance, moving him into third place in club history behind Mel Harder (582 games) and Bob Feller (570).

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: 1B Joey Votto (COVID-19 injured list) had his rehab assignment switched from Louisville (Triple-A) to Dayton (Class A). He has been out since May 3.

Guardians: Reyes was not in the starting lineup after dealing with a “family matter.” … Hitting coach Chris Valaika was back on duty after being one of five Cleveland coaches to test positive for COVID-19.

UP NEXT

Reds RHP Tyler Mahle (2-4, 5.89 ERA) won for the first time since opening day last week in Pittsburgh. He faces Guardians RHP Cal Quantrill (1-2, 3.93) in the series finale.

___

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

AP

Associated Press

Ex-Packer Guion gets 1 year for domestic violence assault

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion was sentenced to one year in jail after pleading no contest in a domestic violence assault at his home last fall. Brown County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Walsh also ordered Guion on Tuesday to serve three years’ probation and complete a domestic […]

3 months ago

Joe Jarzynka...

Associated Press

Durant eager for Suns debut vs. Hornets after knee injury

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Kevin Durant has been through quite a bit during his 15-year NBA career — but joining a new team midway through the season is a new one for the 13-time All-Star. The 34-year-old Durant doesn’t seem all that worried. Durant makes his highly anticipated Phoenix Suns debut on Wednesday night against […]

3 months ago

FILE - Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores stands on the sideline during the second half of an N...

Associated Press

Judge: NFL coach can press discrimination claims in court

NEW YORK (AP) — NFL Coach Brian Flores can pursue some of his discrimination claims against the league and its teams in court rather than through arbitration, a judge ruled Wednesday. The written decision by Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan was issued months after lawyers for the league tried to get the lawsuit moved to […]

3 months ago

Chicago Blackhawks goaltender Alex Stalock cools off in the first period during an NHL hockey game ...

Associated Press

Kane trade reinforces hard reality of Blackhawks rebuild

CHICAGO (AP) — After days of speculation, the harsh reality of the Chicago Blackhawks’ situation was reinforced by one move in a flurry of transactions ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Showtime is over, at least in Chicago, and a seemingly bright future is, well, way off in the distance. The reverberations of Chicago’s decision […]

3 months ago

FILE -  Yves Jean-Bart, president of the Haitian Football Federation, wearing a protective face mas...

Associated Press

Disgraced ex-Haitian soccer president announces he’s back

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti’s former soccer federation president whose lifetime ban from sport over sexual abuse allegations was overturned last month announced Wednesday that he is reclaiming his position. Yves Jean-Bart’s defiant announcement could lead to a standoff with FIFA, which already has appointed an emergency management committee to lead the Haitian Football Association […]

3 months ago

FILE - Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers walks off the field after an NFL football game against the ...

Associated Press

Rodgers says decision on future will come ‘soon enough’

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers says he will make a decision on his future “soon enough” as the four-time MVP quarterback ponders whether to play next season and if his future remains with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 39, discussed his future while speaking on an episode of the “Aubrey Marcus Podcast” that […]

3 months ago

Reds blow lead, hit into 5 double plays and edge Guardians