With less than 60 games remaining in 2026, there’s a finite window for the Cincinnati Reds to get hot while it still matters. The opportunity to continue a solid run coming out of the All-Star break slipped away against the Cleveland Guardians.
The Reds on July 28 trailed the Cleveland Guardians 4-0 after one inning at Great American Ball Park but climbed all the way back to take a 5-4 lead by the end of the fourth inning. Sal Stewart went 2 for 3 in the game with two walks, a solo home run and a two-run single to put the Reds on top in the bottom of the fourth inning.
On a rare day of struggle for Cincinnati starter Chase Burns, the Guardians tied the game at five in the fifth inning. Then, they broke the tie against reliever Sam Moll in the eighth inning as Brayan Rocchio’s squeeze-bunt attempt up the first base line allowed Chase DeLauter to score for a 6-5 lead.
The Reds dropped the game by that score, falling to 49-56 with six days separating the club from the Aug. 3 trade deadline. Just 57 games remain in the regular season, and that number will reach 56 by the end of the day as the 6-5 Guardians win was a makeup game after the teams’ scheduled July 27 meeting was rained out.
The Reds and Guardians will play again July 28 at Great American Ball Park in a game originally scheduled for that date (7:10 p.m.).
Burns’ solid season-long numbers mostly stayed intact, but the game was far from his finest. The five hits off him were still evidence of a challenging outing, and the most he’d allowed since Pittsburgh clapped nine against him on June 27.
Burns was also on the wrong side of an uncommon sequence in the first inning. Cincinnati successfully challenged via video review after Cleveland’s Kyle Mazardo was thought to have been hit by a Burns pitch with the bases loaded.
In winning the challenge, no run crossed and Manzardo’s at-bat continued, but it ended with a grand slam. The inning was also extended on a fielding error by Edwin Arroyo.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds drop first game of split doubleheader against Guardians
Reporting by Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
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By Pat Brennan, Cincinnati Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
