This one changed hands four times before it was over. Cleveland struck first with a four-run outburst, Cincinnati clawed back with a four-run inning of its own, and neither team let the other settle until Brayan Rocchio dropped a bunt down in the eighth that proved to be enough.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLE | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 9 | 0 |
| CIN | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 11 | 1 |
Kyle Manzardo supplied the early damage, going 1-for-3 with a home run and 4 RBI. His blast came in the first inning. Sal Stewart answered for Cincinnati, finishing 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two walks, and was named the game's top batting performer.
Cleveland broke it open in the first when Manzardo homered to right, scoring Ramírez, DeLauter and Bazzana on the same swing to make it 4-0. Cincinnati clawed back with a four-run fourth: Stephenson doubled home Lowe, Arroyo singled in Stephenson, and then Stewart singled to left to score both Arroyo and De La Cruz, putting the Reds ahead 5-4. Cleveland tied it in the fifth when DeLauter's sacrifice fly brought home Ramírez, and the game stayed level until the eighth, when Rocchio's sacrifice bunt to the pitcher scored DeLauter for the go-ahead run, the play that decided the game.
Reds starter Chase Burns worked 5.0 innings, allowing 5 runs, though only 1 was earned, with 5 hits, 2 walks and 4 strikeouts. Cincinnati's bullpen covered the final four innings but Sam Moll surrendered the tying rally with a run allowed in his frame, taking the loss to fall to 1-7 on the season. Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi lasted 3.2 innings and allowed 4 runs, but the bullpen steadied things behind him, with Colin Holderman picking up the win and Cade Smith closing it out for his 30th save.
Cleveland improved to 55-53, snapping back with a win after a loss to move to a 2 division rank, while Cincinnati fell to 49-56.