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CLEVELAND, OHIO - MAY 15: Matt McLain #9 of the Cincinnati Reds hits a two-run home run during the eighth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on May 15, 2026 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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The Cincinnati Reds got another solid start from lefty Andrew Abbott, got a homer from Matt McLain and one more huge performance from JJ Bleday, and managed to hand over a 6-1 lead to the heart of their bullpen on Friday night in the Ohio Cup opener against the Cleveland Guardians.
Sounds pretty straightforward, right?
Things went a bit sideways for the Reds when Graham Ashcraft took the bump for the Bottom of the 8th with said 6-1 lead, coughing up a 4-spot that made the rest of the game (with Cincinnati’s threadbare bullpen) a front-of-the-seat watching in Cincinnati’s eventual 7-6 victory.
Abbott labored a bit needing 90 pitches for just 5+ IP, but he kept Cleveland off the board entirely until Rhys Hoskins socked a solo homer off him in the Bottom of the 6th to end his day. McLain, meanwhile, bashed a pair of hits – one a 2-run homer – while driving in a trio of runs, said homer coming in the Top of the 8th and proving vital in this 1-run affair. He even swiped his 6th bag of the year. For all of that, we’ll give him the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game award for the evening.
Bleday went 3 for 5 with a homer and a ribbie, doubling twice as his blistering start in a Reds uniform continues. Tejay Antone, meanwhile, was summoned for the save and converted it for his first one since back in 2021 on a totally different elbow.
Tony Santillan, meanwhile, fired a scoreless inning again, finally. He did allow a double to Jose Ramirez (who hasn’t?) but pitched around it with a K. The Reds are going to need him now more than ever with Emilio Pagan out, and hopefully he’s found the correction to his form.
These two will go toe to toe in Ohio Cup action again on Saturday, with Chris Paddack getting the start in his Reds debut after signing earlier in the week. We’ll all hope he catches lightning in a bottle. Gavin Williams of Cleveland will chuck out the game’s first pitch at 6:10 PM ET.
It’s a short one, but the Reds are on a win streak.
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