Before the game, former Cleveland manager Tito Francona, managing his first game against his old team, told writers, \u201cI hope we don\u2019t face Jose Ramirez in the ninth inning with the game on the line.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ramirez homered in the eighth off Tony Sanguillen to draw the Guardians to within one and Francona said, \u201cWhen he hit it, I thought the wind might keep it in the ball park, but all the wind did was keep it from going into the river.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was a slight heart-skipper opening the ninth with closer Emilio Pagan on the mound. Carlos Santana lifted one very high and very deep toward the right field wall. But it stayed in and Benson caught it.<\/p>\n
Pagan then retired the next two, ending it by striking out Gabriel Arias with a 3-and-2 high-and-in fastball. It was Pagan\u2019s 10th save in 12 opportunities.<\/p>\n
So the Reds took the first step toward winning the three-game series and reclaiming the not-so-coveted Ohio Cup.<\/p>\n
The Indians\/Guardians have owned the Ohio Cup since 2015 and entering Friday\u2019s game Cleveland was 31-15 against the Reds since the trinket\u2019s inception.<\/p>\n
Even though not many show much care about the Ohio Cup, Francona said before the game, \u201cIt\u2019s the Ohio Cub so that\u2019s some added pressure. Hey, I know all those guys and rooted for them last year. But I hope we beat them tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n
And they did, barely. It was an added good feeling for the Reds to win by one run because Cleveland was 8-and-2 in one-run games and Cincinnati was 4-and-7.<\/p>\n
![\"Cincinnati](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/OS2RSVUSKYBR6R36QDXPF2ZNMM.jpg\")
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Credit: AP<\/p>\n
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Credit: AP<\/p>\n
The Reds were facing Cleveland\u2019s best pitcher, Tanner Bibee. Before he left after six innings, he had given up five runs (four earned) and a career-high 10 hits.<\/p>\n
The first two pitches of the third innings turned into hits \u2014 a first-pitch single by Gavin Lux and a first-pitch double by Spencer Steer, who has hit safely in seven of his last eight games.<\/p>\n
After Tyler Stephenson struck out, Benson cracked his three-run homer, his second in two games. Since his recall from Triple-A Louisville, he has played in six games and has seven hits, four for extra bases.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill was dying for an opportunity,\u201d said Francona. \u201cA lot of guys when you send them to the minors, it\u2019s human nature. I don\u2019t want to say pouting, but it\u2019s like getting kicked in the stomach.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe did the opposite of that…he went and played,\u201d Francona added. \u201cNow he is getting the opportunity and trying to make the most of it. He shows up with a good attitude, he\u2019s ready to play, he\u2019s in the right place. It\u2019s been fun to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Cincinnati](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/KWRFQYK6JVRHGVMMUKYWEWR3ZI.jpg\")
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