Cleveland Indians rain home runs over Cincinnati Reds in 9-3 win, retain Ohio Cup

CLEVELAND, Ohio – This time the rain stayed away most of the time, and it was the Cleveland Indians who flooded the Cincinnati Reds with home runs in a 9-3 win at Progressive Field.

José Ramírez netted a run with a triple RBI in the third and added a two-run homer in the fourth against Reds starter Luis Castillo as the Indians tied the season series at three wins apiece and retained the Coupe de Ohio for the seventh consecutive season.

Cleveland’s victory ended a five-game unbeaten streak for the Reds, who had won 10 of their last 12 games. She also lowered the Indian record to the 0.500 mark to 55-55.

Cleveland is 69-54 against the Reds and has won 23 of 33 games since 2015, edging Cincinnati 212-117 in that span. Monday’s game was a makeup from the May 9 game that was swept away by rain. Thought the sky was threatened for a few innings, the game never stopped.

Joey Votto put the Reds 1-0 in Game 1 with a two-strike RBI single against Cleveland starter Sam Hentges. But Hentges settled in and completed two innings, allowing four hits and one walk with one strikeout.

After consecutive singles from Aristides Aquino and Tucker Barnhart in second, Hentges escaped trouble by forcing Reds second baseman Jonathan India to merge into a late-inning double play.

From there, the Cleveland offense gained the upper hand, scoring eight unanswered points to gain control. Castillo (L, 6-11, 4.53) hit Bradley Zimmer on the elbow to open the second and Wilson Ramos called with his second home run in his second game with Cleveland.

Added to the Indian roster over the weekend when Roberto Perez entered the injured roster with a sore back, Ramos had three hits and an RBI on his Cleveland debut on Friday.

Amed Rosario had hits in his first three home plate appearances, including a triple RBI at the base of the left-field wall that scored Myles Straw in the second. Rosario was on board for Ramírez’s 25th home run in fourth position.

Ramírez entered the game with 312 more hits since 2017, the most in majors in that span, with Cincinnati’s Nicholas Castellanos lagging behind (311). Rosario went on to add a brace with a strikeout in the eighth, giving him a team-high in four games with at least four hits.

Interim manager DeMarlo Hale saod Rosario will get an extra day off here and there after Andres Gimenez joins the club.

“We asked him a lot every day to go out there and be a shortstop,” Hale said. “It showed tonight that he had a good night’s sleep and that it was all about keeping him cool throughout the home stretch, really trying to help him continue to have a good year. “

In the seventh, Zimmer did something that no other Indian hitter has accomplished in the StatCast era (since 2015). His 471 solo homers against Reds reliever Justin Wilson sailed over the trees and through Monument Park in the middle of the field.

This is the longest home run ever recorded by a Cleveland hitter since Major League Baseball began tracking home run distances with StatCast technology. The previous leader was Edwin Encarnacion’s 466-foot explosion in the Second Bridge at Camden Yards vs. Baltimore on June 20, 2017.

Zimmer’s explosion is tied for the tenth longest home run in the majors this season. He’s been hitting 0.300 since July 8, outscoring the Indians and batting in all four of the club’s current homestand with a pair of home runs and four RBIs.

“I’ve always loved to hit here,” Zimmer said. “Some guys have a visual thing, the batter’s eye, whatever. I just feel comfortable at home. There is something to be said about playing at home no matter what, in front of your own fans. I think I can see the ball well here.

Four Cleveland relievers have followed Hentges to the mound, allowing two runs on five hits in the last seven frames. Blake Parker and Nick Wittgren worked scoreless innings, while Justin Garza and Nick Sandlin allowed a run each on a hit each.

Garza (W, 2-0, 2.35) earned his second big-league victory, pulling the team out in third after running Jesse Winker to start the round.

“He made some adjustments because the first hitter he faced, he wasn’t in the zone, but he made the adjustments,” Hale said. “I really thought Parker and Wittgren were very efficient. I don’t think they threw more than 20 pitches. We kind of gave the bullpen, the other guys a little rest, which I think was needed. “

Reds pitcher Wade Miley, who went 1-1 in two starts against the Indians, including his first career scoreless game on May 7, has been named the Ohio Cup MVP.

Next: The Indians welcome Oakland to town for a three-game series against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Right-hander Triston McKenzie (1-5, 5.89 ERA) will take the mound for Cleveland while left-hander Sean Manaea (8-7, 3.26) will start for the A. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM and Indians Radio Network.

Indian goods for sale: Here’s where you can order Cleveland Indians gear online before the team becomes the Guardians, including jerseys, t-shirts, hoodies, hats and more.

More Indian coverage

Bobby Bradley walks over to IL with knee pain; Indians promote LHP Francisco Perez

Where do Bradley Zimmer and Andres Gimenez fit into the Indians’ plans beyond 2021?

Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds one-game makeup preview

On a rule 5 keeper and three other things about Indians

Bradley Zimmer’s two-run homeroom gives Indians 7-5 win over Tigers

Bat boy harassment lawsuit against former Indian shortstop Omar Vizquel

Indians waste opportunity after opportunity in 2-1 loss to Detroit Tigers