CLEVELAND — It’s already been a season full of dizzying comebacks and improbable rallies. But the Reds showed on Tuesday night that if they had even a grain of magic dust at their disposal, they would find a way to make it work.
Cincinnati did it, fighting back from two deficits and energized by five home runs to claim a wild 11-7 victory over the Guardians at Progressive Field. It was the Reds’ 48th come-from-behind victory, giving them the Major League lead while keeping their hopes of a National League Wild Card berth alive.
Cleveland took a 3-0 lead in two innings and a 7-5 lead in four innings against starting pitcher Hunter Greene, who exited in the fourth inning, but Cincinnati’s offense bailed him out in a must-win game.
“It doesn’t matter if the game is close or if we have to come back so hard, that’s why I like this team. We will never give up,” Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz said through translator Jorge Merlos. “That’s why this team works so well.”
De La Cruz enjoyed his first career multihomer game with a solo shot to center field in the fourth inning. The exclamation point came on his two-run home run to right-center field in the ninth, which traveled a Statcast-predicted 467 feet with a departure velocity of 119.2 mph. They were both the furthest and hardest hit balls of his short big league career.
“That was sick,” first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand said with a laugh.
Earlier in the day, the Reds announced that infielder Matt McLain (right slash) would not return for the regular season. Had McLain returned, it might have come at the expense of De La Cruz, who entered the game batting .157 (16 for 102) with three RBIs and 39 strikeouts in 28 games since his last home run on August 23.
“It’s been a difficult period, but that doesn’t mean we won’t still come out with a positive attitude,” De La Cruz said. “No matter what happens, you have to finish strong. That’s the mentality you have. You have to commit to it every time you go on the field.”
In Greene’s last start against the Twins on Wednesday, he delivered one of the best starts of his career, posting 14 strikeouts in seven innings. On Tuesday it quickly became clear that no other gem was available to him.
Greene allowed three home runs while throwing 70 pitches in more than three innings. Bo Naylor’s three-run home run in the second inning beat Cincinnati 3-0. After taking a 4-3 lead early in the third inning, Greene gave up the lead when Kole Calhoun and Andrés Giménez hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the third inning.
The Reds’ worn-out bullpen, which has struggled greatly of late, banded together to silence Cleveland’s bats. Sam Moll followed Greene with two scoreless innings and Fernando Cruz also pitched two perfect innings.
Lucas Sims pitched a perfect eighth inning and Alexis Díaz took care of the ninth. Combined, the bullpen allowed one hit in six scoreless innings.
“It wasn’t tonight [Greene’s] “Best night,” said Reds manager David Bell. “It’s a team game.” He often took us along. Our offense was definitely able to pick him up early. I thought the reply back innings was really important. Our bullpen stepped in, starting with Sam Moll. He was outstanding. Anyone who threw could prevent the goal.”
The first answer came from Luke Maile. He led off the top of the third inning with a home run to left field off Lucas Giolito. Maile’s two-out, two-run single to left field in the fifth inning – with De La Cruz’s head slide across the plate – gave the Reds the lead for good.
“The way our offense played tonight, it just felt free. “It felt like we were on offense and I think that’s what we need now,” said Maile, who tied a career high with three goals. “We play and have nothing to lose. That’s what got us here and that’s what will keep us moving forward.”
The power kept coming. Encarnacion-Strand, in his third straight game (and sixth in the last eight), hit a home run with a two-run pitch in the third inning. TJ Friedl added a leadoff home run to right field in the sixth inning, giving him a career-best four straight long ball games.
“Every game means a lot,” Encarnacion Beach. “It means a lot to come out of this with a win.”