Kyle Manzardo led a long-ball barrage with two home runs and Gavin Williams tossed six strong innings to lead the Cleveland Guardians past the visiting Cincinnati Reds, 10-3, on Sunday in the rubber game of the three-game series.
The Guardians belted six homers on the day, accounting for all 10 runs, and won for the fifth time in six games and for the eighth time in 11 games. After opening 20-11, Cincinnati lost for the 12th time in 16 games.
Williams (6-3) stopped a personal two-game losing streak and won for the first time since April 29. The flame-throwing righty, who won five straight decisions in April, allowed just two runs and eight hits over six innings, striking out seven and walking none.
Jose Ramirez broke a 24-game homerless drought with a two-run shot in the eighth and walked twice as the Guardians belted six home runs in a game for the first time since June 17, 2017 against Minnesota.
Cleveland jumped on top with a Chase DeLauter two-run homer in the first against Cincinnati starter and loser Brady Singer (2-4).
Elly De La Cruz launched his team-leading 11th home run, an opposite field solo shot off Williams that cut Cleveland’s lead to 2-1 in the top of the third.
But Cleveland answered immediately in the bottom of the inning with the first of Manzardo’s two home runs, a long drive down the right field that hit off the foul pole and put Cleveland ahead, 4-1.
After the Reds cut the lead to 4-2 on a Nathanial Lowe RBI single against Williams in the fourth, Brayan Rocchio added his fourth of the year on a hanging Singer breaking ball in the bottom of the frame for a 5-2 Cleveland advantage.
One start after taking a line drive off the right side of his right foot, Singer was charged with five runs on seven hits in four innings, including a season-high three home runs.
Manzardo added his second homer of the game and his fourth of the season in the fifth off lefty reliever Brock Burke. Angel Martinez also had a two-run homer off reliever Connor Phillips in the seventh.
Travis Bazzana went 3-fo-4 for the Guardians, while DeLauter, Manzardo and Rocchio all contributed two hits.
De La Cruz went 2-for-5, but fanned twice as the Reds struck out a dozen times.
–Field Level Media
