The Cleveland Guardians avenged their Friday loss with a 7-4 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday, thanks in large part to Angel Martinez’s incredible night at the plate. The switch-hitter hit the go-ahead homer in the seventh inning and scored three runs to help his team tie the series.
Starter Joey Cantillo conceded four runs in just five innings, allowing four hits and four walks while striking out four, but Cleveland’s bullpen, which has found a lot of success lately, was flawless and helped secure the important win. Colin Holderman, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis, and Cade Smith each notched scoreless appearances to shut down the Reds’ offense in the late stages of the game.
The Guardians are now 25-22, still at the top of the AL Central.
“And that’s a Saturday night dub!” Cleveland Guardians posted.
And that's a Saturday night dub!#GuardsBall | #GuardiWins pic.twitter.com/xlrVnJWTeR
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 17, 2026
With the bases loaded in the second inning, Brayan Rocchio hit a two-run single that scored Steven Kwan and Angel Martinez with the first two runs of the game. However, Dane Myers belted a solo home run in the top of the third to bring the Reds closer, still down 2-1.
Sal Stewart found the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the fifth, and Joey Cantillo briefly lost the zone and walked him, enabling Blake Dunn to tie the game. Then, Spencer Steer hit a well-struck double that produced two runs for Cinci, but Stewart was thrown out at the plate with the final out of the inning. The Reds were now in command, 4-2.
With Angel Martinez at second and Kwan at third, Luis Mey threw a wild pitch that brought home the run that would cut the Guardians’ deficit to just one. Just moments later, Martinez knotted the score thanks to a sac fly by Rhys Hoskins.
Kyle Manzardo started the seventh with a leadoff single. After Travis Bazzana and Kwan struck out, it looked like the Guardians would wind up empty-handed in that inning, but then Martinez hit the most important batted ball of the game: a go-ahead, two-run homer to put Cleveland in front 6-4.
A budding star.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/Y8OLgqNvEO
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 17, 2026
Then, in the bottom of the eighth, Reds pitcher Connor Phillips committed a fielding error on a ball hit by Bazzana, allowing Jose Ramirez to score Cleveland’s seventh and final run.
Martinez went 2-for-4 with the long ball, three runs scored, and two RBI, increasing his season OPS to a cool .809. Manzardo, Ramirez, and Rocchio racked up two hits each.
Cleveland will try to win the series on Sunday behind Gavin Williams. He will face Brady Singer.
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