Angel Martinez hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the seventh inning off Pierce Johnson and scored three runs, lifting the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-4 comeback win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night.
Cleveland trailed 4-2 before scoring five times over the sixth, seventh and eighth, highlighted by Martinez’s blast to right-center field that greeted Johnson. Kyle Manzardo, who reached on a liner off shortstop Elly De La Cruz, came around.
The Guardians had tied it at 4-4 in the sixth on a wild pitch by Reds reliever Luis Mey that brought home Steven Kwan and Rhys Hoskins’ sacrifice fly to plate Martinez.
Cleveland tacked on an insurance run in the eighth when Jose Ramirez scored on a fielding error by pitcher Connor Phillips. Ramirez stole second and third base after singling, taking over the major league lead with 20 thefts.
Erik Sabrowski (2-1) struck out De La Cruz — the only batter he faced — in the seventh. Cade Smith walked one in the ninth before earning his 14th save.
Sam Moll (1-3) struck out two but allowed a run on a hit in 1 1/3 innings.
The Guardians took a 2-0 lead in the second on Brayan Rocchio’s single, scoring Kwan and Martinez. They were the only runs allowed by Chris Paddack, who worked five innings in his debut with the Reds.
Cincinnati got on the board in the third on Dane Myers’ solo homer to right, then went in front 4-2 in the fifth with three runs off Guardians starter Joey Cantillo. Sal Stewart drew a bases loaded walk, bringing in Blake Dunn, to tie the game.
Spencer Steer’s two-run double gave the Reds their initial advantage, scoring Ke’Bryan Hayes and De La Cruz, but Stewart was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
Cantillo pitched five innings, giving up four runs on four hits with four walks and four strikeouts. The left-hander surrendered more than three runs in an interleague start for the first time in six career outings.
Paddack, who was released by the Miami Marlins on May 11, allowed six hits and struck out three with one walk. The right-hander lowered his ERA to 7.07 while remaining winless in eight games this season.
De La Cruz extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single. His 34 runs lead the majors at his position.
–Field Level Media
