CLEVELAND (AP) — Mike Moustakas drew the third straight walk in the 10th inning by Cleveland reliever Nick Sandlin to force in a run, and the Cincinnati Reds hung on for a 5-4 win over the Guardians on Tuesday night.
Moustakas was down to his last strike before taking three straight pitches from Sandlin (3-2) to bring in Matt Reynolds, who started the inning at second base.
Art Warren (2-1) got the win for Cincinnati but only because he blew a two-run lead in the ninth inning. He gave up Owen MiIller’s tying, two-run homer in the ninth. Rookie reliever Alexis Díaz survived a nerve-racking 10th by striking out Cleveland star José Ramírez with the bases loaded for the final out and his first save.
Tyler Naquin homered for the Reds (10-26), who became the last team in the majors to reach double-digit wins despite grounding into five double plays and blowing a two-run lead in the ninth.
Miller’s towering two-run homer into the left-field bleachers off Warren tied it 4-4.
The Guardians had managed just four singles over the first eight innings against rookie Connor Overton and reliever Tony Santillan before Miller followed a leadoff walk to José Ramírez with his fourth homer.
Miller’s heroics snatched a win from Overton.
The right-hander allowed just three singles over 7 2/3 innings in Cincinnati’s second straight stellar start. Overton allowed back-to-back hits in the third, retired 15 straight and then gave up a leadoff infield single in the eighth.
Overton got two outs but walked pinch-hitter Franmil Reyes and was pulled by manager David Bell after a career-high 98 pitches.
His performance came two days after Cincinnati rookie starter Hunter Greene and Warren combined to work eight no-hit innings in a 1-0 loss at Pittsburgh.
The Reds were just the sixth team in the modern era to lose despite not allowing a hit, one of baseball’s rarest feats.
The Guardians played their fourth straight game without manager Terry Francona, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week in Chicago and also missed the three-game weekend series in Minnesota.
Acting manager and pitching coach Carl Willis said the 63-year-old Francona is feeling better and nearing a return.
Cleveland first baseman Josh Naylor also remains out.
Naquin, who spent five seasons with Cleveland, gave the Reds a 1-0 lead with his third homer — a shot into the right-field seats off Zach Plesac.
HELP WANTED
Plesac, who gave up two runs in six innings, hasn’t gotten much run support.
The Guardians have scored 11 runs in his seven starts, a huge departure from the past three seasons when Cleveland averaged 5.28 runs per nine innings for him.
RARE AIR
Guardians reliever Bryan Shaw made his 475th career appearance, moving him into third place in club history behind Mel Harder (582 games) and Bob Feller (570).
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: 1B Joey Votto (COVID-19 injured list) had his rehab assignment switched from Louisville (Triple-A) to Dayton (Class A). He has been out since May 3.
Guardians: Reyes was not in the starting after dealing with a “family matter.” … Hitting coach Chris Valaika was back on duty after being one of five Cleveland coaches to test positive for COVID-19.
UP NEXT
Reds RHP Tyler Mahle (2-4, 5.89 ERA) won for the first time since opening day last week in Pittsburgh. He faces Guardians RHP Cal Quantrill (1-2, 3.93) in the series finale.
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