The Cincinnati Reds kicked off the Ohio Cup with a nail-biting 7-6 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night, delivering a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final out.
Left-hander Andrew Abbott set the tone with a gritty performance, needing 90 pitches to navigate five-plus innings. He kept Cleveland scoreless until Rhys Hoskins launched a solo homer in the bottom of the sixth, ending Abbott's night on a positive note. The Reds built a commanding 6-1 lead thanks to a potent offensive display, but the drama was just beginning.
Matt McLain was the star of the show, collecting two hits—including a crucial two-run homer in the top of the eighth—and driving in three runs. His home run proved vital in what became a one-run game, and he also swiped his sixth stolen base of the season, earning him the Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game award for the evening.
JJ Bleday continued his blistering start in a Reds uniform, going 3-for-5 with a home run, an RBI, and two doubles. His consistent production has been a bright spot for Cincinnati's lineup early in the season.
However, the bullpen made things interesting. Graham Ashcraft took the mound in the bottom of the eighth with a 6-1 lead but surrendered four runs, turning a comfortable advantage into a tense finish. With Cincinnati's bullpen already thin, the game became a white-knuckle affair. Tejay Antone was called upon for the save and delivered, converting his first save since 2021—a remarkable feat given his return from multiple elbow surgeries.
Tony Santillan also contributed a scoreless inning, working around a double to Jose Ramirez with a strikeout. His performance is a welcome sight for the Reds, who will need him more than ever with Emilio Pagan sidelined.
The Reds and Guardians will face off again on Saturday in the second game of the Ohio Cup. Chris Paddack is set to make his Reds debut after signing earlier this week, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. He'll be opposed by Cleveland's Gavin Williams, with first pitch scheduled for 6:10 PM ET.
It's a short one, but the Reds are riding a win streak—and that's something to build on.