Story by
Guardians score vs Cincinnati Reds | Carlos Santana hits grand slam, Guardians crush Reds
- Story by
- Guardians score vs Cincinnati Reds | Carlos Santana hits grand slam, Guardians crush Reds
CLEVELAND — A Guardians lineup looking to get back on track faced Terry Francona and the Cincinnati Reds on the afternoon of June 11 at Progressive Field , eventually winning 11-2.
The Guardians had yet to score more than four runs in the month of June and were coming off of a shutout loss June 10 before June 11's offensive reversal, which included a grand slam from Carlos Santana .
Advertisement
The series finale featured a matchup of lefties, Logan Allen for the Guardians and Nick Lodolo of the Reds.
Follow along here for live score updates, analysis and highlights from June 11's game.
Guardians beat the Reds
Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth, and the Guardians beat the Reds 11-2. It was, perhaps, a game that allows the Guardians offense to take a deep breath.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit in helmet with Emmanuel Clase pitch
A bit of scary moment in the top of the ninth, Christian Encarnacion-Strand was hit in the helmet (the brim) with a 97.1 mph pitch from Emmanuel Clase.
It appears as though Encarnacion-Strand is OK, and he's staying in the game, as it mostly just knocked his helmet off.
Advertisement
Lane Thomas hits 3-run home run; Guardians reach double digit runs
The Guardians are pouring it on (which isn't a sentence that's been applicable in a while).
Leading 7-2 entering the bottom of the sixth, Angel Martinez brought home a run with an infield single, and Lane Thomas then broke the game wide open with a three-run home run, his first homer of the season, to give Cleveland an 11-2 lead.
This is one of those games in a baseball season where it seems like all of a team's offensive output pours out all at once, like a cup of ice holding back until all of it charges at the same time.
Jun 11, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians first baseman Carlos Santana (41) rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam home run during the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Kyle Manzardo hits 2-run double to extend Guardians lead over Reds
With two runners on in the fourth, Kyle Manzardo ripped a double down the right field line to score both and make it 7-1. The Guardians are finally breaking through offensively after a few weeks of stranding runners.
Jun 11, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (11) hits an RBI double during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Elly De La Cruz crushes 441-foot home run
The Reds are on the board, and it was a loud one.
Advertisement
Elly De La Cruz, in the fourth inning, absolutely demolished a Logan Allen offering 441-foot for a solo home run, making it 5-1 Guardians. It landed a little more than halfway up the bleachers in left field.
But nobody won a car for that one.
Jun 11, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Guardians designated hitter David Fry (6) scores on an RBI double hit by Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez (not pictured) during the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Grand Slam Giveaway alert as Carlos Santana crushes grand slam; Guardians lead Reds by 5
For the first time in the month of June, the Guardians will have a game with more than four runs scored. And someone just won a car.
With two runners already on base with one out, Nick Lodolo hit Jose Ramirez on the foot to load the bases. Carlos Santana followed by crushing a grand slam to right-center field, opening up a 5-0 lead for the Guardians.
Advertisement
That was also in the Grand Slam Giveaway inning, meaning Santana just won someone a new Hyundai car. It's the first Grand Slam Giveaway since Andres Gimenez hit one in 2022 and the first since Hyundai took over sponsorship.
The winner was Edward Moss of Cleveland.
Jose Ramirez RBI double extends on-base streak to 37 games; Guardians lead Reds
The Guardians have finally taken the lead, and of course it was off the bat of Jose Ramirez.
With David Fry on first, Jose Ramirez drilled an RBI double off the top of the wall in left field, just missing a home run. It extended his on-base streak to 37 games, which is a career high and the longest active streak in the majors.
Advertisement
It was also a nice piece of base running by Fry to score from first with only one out, though Garrett Hampson bobbling the ball for a second in left field helped.
It's 1-0 Guardians in the first.
Ramirez also stole third base, giving him eight seasons with at least 20 steals, tying Kenny Lofton for the franchise lead. Though, Gabriel Arias struck out to end the inning, stranding Ramirez on third.
Guardians, Reds score: Logan Allen pitches around Gabriel Arias error
It was a rough first inning for shortstop Gabriel Arias, but Guardians starter Logan Allen was able to work around it with a scoreless first inning.
Advertisement
First, Arias nearly dropped a pop-up on the first play of the game. He held on to it, but the ball snow-coned on him and nearly popped out.
Then, Santiago Espinal singled to left field. As he rounded first base, Arias tried to throw behind him but instead airmailed it into the Reds' dugout for a two-base throwing error, putting Espinal on third.
Allen, though, retired the next two batters to escape the inning unharmed.
Below is some pregame information.
Guardians injury update: Andrew Walters , Will Brennan out for rest of 2025 season
Guardians reliever Andrew Walters and outfielder Will Brennan are both done for the rest of the 2025 season, according to a medical update provided by the team.
Advertisement
Walters underwent shoulder surgery to repair the latissimus dorsi tendon June 9 in Chicago . He'll report to the team's facility in Goodyear, Ariz., to begin his rehab. Typical return-to-pitch time frames for that kind of a procedure are in the 8- to 10-month range.
It'll conclude a nightmarish 2025 for Walters, who has experienced multiple setbacks and arm injuries since training camp. He returned and appeared in only two games in the major leagues before leaving his last appearance in obvious pain.
Brennan underwent surgery to repair the UCL in his left elbow June 9 in Dallas. He'll also head to Goodyear, Ariz., to begin his own rehab. His expected time frame to return has been set at 6 to 8 months. It means he could be ready for baseball activities next spring, but his 2025 season is over.
Guardians lineup vs Reds
-
Lane Thomas, CF
-
David Fry, DH
-
Jose Ramirez, 3B
-
Carlos Santana, 1B
-
Gabriel Arias, SS
-
Nolan Jones , LF
-
Johnathan Rodriguez, RF
-
Dom Nunez , C
-
Angel Martinez, 2B
Advertisement
MLB standings: AL Central Division
The American League Central Division standings entering June 11:
How can I watch, stream or listen to the Guardians vs Astros game?
Wednesday's game can be viewed locally on AT&T U-verse (channel 1736), COX (channel 80), DIRECTV Satellite and Streaming (channel 662), FuboTV and Spectrum (channel 1306). It can also be streamed via MLB's direct-to-consumer streaming subscription ( CLEGuardians.TV ) for $99.99 a season or $19.99 a month. And it'll be available on the radio via WTAM 1100, WMMS 100.7 and WARF 1350.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians score today vs Cincinnati Reds highlights, recap
