Series Review: Coming up short is the Guardians special against Reds

The Cleveland Guardians failed to take a winnable two-game set against the Reds.

The Cleveland Guardians were set to have a palate cleanser against the Cinncinatti Reds, starting a stretch of games against .500 or below teams that would hopefully see the Guardians gorge on lesser competition and get into contention within the division.

That was supposed to start against the Reds, and despite a postponement in action on Wednesday, the Reds were able to muster a sweep against the Guardians, putting a dent in the team’s late-spring efforts to get a foothold atop the AL Central.

Offensive slumps from Jose Ramirez, Steven Kwan, and Myles Straw have really hurt the team as of late, and the continued struggles of Franmil Reyes have not helped any. The loss of Josh Naylor due to Covid has not been a good thing either, and the entire offensive appears out of whack.

The team’s offense is too talented for this to be their normal, but it’s not helping the team’s playoff hopes that they’re struggling this much both pitching and hitting. Hopefully, things get straightened out as the season progresses.

Guardians can’t break their offensive skid against the Reds

Game 1 – Reds Win (5-4)

Trailing 3-1 in the eighth inning, the Guardians were able to mount a comeback in the later innings tying the game to head into extra innings. That’s where the comeback failed, as Myles Straw and Owen Miller were unable to do it all by themselves offensively and the pitching eventually gave up one too many runs.

Game 2 – Reds Win (4-2)

The Guardians kept a 1-1 tie through eight, before Trevor Stephan, who’s usually reliable, got lit up for three runs in the eighth. The Guardians try to rally with another run in the bottom of the inning but they were unable to complete the comeback falling 4-2.

Series Standout

Owen Miller

2-8, 1 Hr, 2 RBI, 2 Runs