The big job Marty Brennaman passed on for his love of Cincinnati
Marty Brennaman has a framed contract, left unsigned, in his collection for a big job he passed on for his love of Cincinnati.
After jumping on the Cleveland Guardians early, the Cincinnati Reds‘ pitching staff creaked and buckled, but ultimately held up.
Cincinnati took the series opener off Cleveland, 5-4, on Friday at Great American Ball Park before a crowd of 26,131 after jumping out to a 5-0 lead after just three innings. The game was moved up to 5:10 p.m. from its originally-scheduled 6:40 p.m. start time due to the threat of severe weather in Greater Cincinnati.
Reds starter Brady Singer (5-2) went five innings, allowing three runs on three hits and three walks while striking out four in earning the victory. He was aided in his efforts by four Reds relievers, the last of which was Emilio Pagán, who picked up his 10th save of 2025.
In the ninth inning, Pagán allowed a towering fly ball to Cleveland slugger Carlos Santana, but Pagán watched as the ball died on the warning track for the first out of the inning. An equalizing run wouldn’t arrive, and Pagán struck out Gabriel Arias to post a perfect ninth inning.
The victory improved the Reds’ record to 22-24. Cleveland’s record dropped to 25-19.
Will Benson’s bat stayed hot and helped the Reds strike early. In the second inning, Benson launched his second home run in as many days, this one a three-run shot to right field to open the scoring. Later in the second, Matt McLain scored on a throwing error following an infield single by Santiago Espinal.
Benson (2-for-4) improved to 6-for-11 in four games this week. His batting average moved up to .313.
“I’m grateful. Every opportunity is a chance to just work on the craft,” Benson said. “I’m thankful that I’ve been able to cash in and help my team win.”
Cincinnati’s fifth run arrived an inning later. Austin Hays (2-for-4) hit a solo shot to left field, marking his’ sixth homer of the season.
“I’ve been here a short period of time and I will commend Hays on his aggression,” Benson said. “For me, I like seeing that because he’s out there taking good passes. For me, I see someone swinging with that level of intent, it’s like, ‘OK, let’s go out there and match that.’ And he has a very upbeat attitude and the type of swagger that I sense it and I know my teammates do as well.”
A Gavin Lux double to lead off the third inning gave the Reds eight hits against playoff-tested Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee, but Bibee settled down from there and didn’t allow another run.
“I thought we did a really good job early off of Bibee,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “And then, to his credit, he kinda does what he does. He battled and kept them in there and gave them a chance, but we had some really good at-bats and Will Benson with, obviously, the big hit.
“Winning is what we showed up to do.”
Bibee (3-4) ended the day having gritted out 105 pitches. He allowed four earned runs and 10 hits over six innings.
Then, Cleveland’s bats started to get to Singer. Santana put the Guardians on the scoreboard with a two-run double in the fourth. An inning later, Bo Naylor homered to center field. Cincinnati’s bullpen took over after Singer got through the fifth inning.
“I thought (Singer) had to battle his rear end off because this was a (Cleveland) team, historically, that you look at almost one through nine, there’s a lot of at-bats and a lot of hits and some damage,” Francona said. “He really battled. You know what? He did a pretty damn good job.”
Taylor Rogers and Graham Ashcraft worked scoreless innings, although Tony Santillan allowed a no-doubt home run to Cleveland slugger Jose Ramirez in the eighth inning.
Meanwhile, the Reds were missing chances to put the game out of reach. Cincinnati finished the game 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
But after Pagán survived the scare off Santana’s bat to begin the ninth inning, he appeared to make easy work of the final two Cleveland batters. His 10 saves rank third among National League relievers.
The Reds and Guardians are scheduled to play Saturday at 6:40 p.m. Cincinnati will send Chase Petty (0-2, 21.94 ERA) against Slade Cecconi, who will be making his Guardians debut. The Reds faced him when he was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks.