A season series was already clinched by the Indians over the Reds, but Thursday’s 7-2 victory by Cleveland underscored that the Ohio Cup was firmly in its grasp for another year. A pair of two-run home runs by Carlos Santana, including one to cap a four-run fifth inning, sealed a four-game sweep this week in the home-and-home series.
The Indians, who outscored the Reds by a 43-16 margin over the past four games, have claimed the last two Ohio Cups by winning nine of the 10 games played in the in-state rivalry since 2015.
“We seem to get contributions all over the place, which I think is kind of how we have to be,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “We’ve got to keep the line moving and play like that. We did OK, but now we’ll move quickly to the next team.”
Santana made it a 2-0 game in the fourth inning with his first two-run homer of the night, a shot to right field on a 1-0 pitch from Reds starter Tim Adleman. Four batters later, Adleman departed with a strained left oblique. Cleveland had one out and one run in during the fifth against reliever Caleb Cotham when Santana jumped on a first pitch for his second two-run homer to right field.
“We talk the same story every day here,” said Reds manager Bryan Price after his club lost for the seventh time in the last eight games. “It’s a fact, we have to pitch better if we’re really going to be able to stay away from losing streaks and be able to keep our head above water. If we can’t pitch, we’re not going to compete very well.”
Indians starter Josh Tomlin improved his record to 6-0 as he pitched 7 2/3 innings and gave up two earned runs, five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts. He also collected a pair of hits.
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