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Guardians embrace warm weather with impromptu home run derby, Ohio Cup rout
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- Guardians embrace warm weather with impromptu home run derby, Ohio Cup rout
CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians held an impromptu home run derby Sunday, May 17, during a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Progressive Field.
Everybody wearing a Guardians uniform was invited as five players accounted for six home runs in a 10-3 win on a warm afternoon . The temperature was 79 degrees when Gavin Williams delivered the first pitch.
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Kyle Manzardo hit two home runs, and Chase DeLauter , Brayan Rocchio , Angel Martinez and José Ramírez each hit one homer as the Guardians won the three-game Ohio Cup series and remained atop the American League Central Division.
Cleveland hit six home runs in a game for the first time since August 15, 2019, when the team hit seven against the host New York Yankees .
"All of them were awesome," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said of the home runs. "They all came at huge times, especially the ones late. I think DeLauter getting one in the first [inning] to get us on the board and it just seemed like we just kept adding on.
"And that's such a huge momentum burst for us to get through the game and not have to use leverage guys [out of the bullpen]. Just a fun day all around."
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The six home runs was Cleveland's most in a game at Progressive Field since April 30, 2013, when it hit seven against the Philadelphia Phillies .
Cleveland Guardians' Chase DeLauter hits a home run in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds on May 17, 2026, in Cleveland.
Reds manager Terry Francona was Cleveland's manager for both of those games.
DeLauter hit a two-run home run with one out in the first inning off Reds starter Brady Singer to give the Guardians a 2-0 lead. Ramirez walked ahead of DeLauter's 371-foot home run over the fence in right field.
Manzardo's first home run was a two-run shot off Singer with one out in the third inning to give the Guardians a 4-1 lead. DeLauter singled before Manzardo's 382-foot homer off the fair pole in right field.
Cleveland Guardians' Kyle Manzardo hits a home run in the third inning against the Cincinnati Reds on May 17, 2026, in Cleveland.
"We've got a lot of guys that haven't necessarily done it for a super long time, but a lot of us have kind of got these big-league reps," Manzardo said. "So, yeah, you are seeing different guys kind of blossom into who they are, which is, I think, really cool."
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Rocchio hit a solo home run off Singer with one out in the fourth inning to give the Guardians a 5-2 lead. Rocchio hit the ball 388 feet over the right-center field fence.
"When he missed, he paid a big price," Francona said of Singer (2-4, 6.26 ERA). "We knew going into the game they had nine left-handers, and that is a challenge. He had to work for everything, and when he missed he paid a price."
Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio hits a home run in the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds on May 17, 2026, in Cleveland.
Manzardo's second home run was a solo shot that went 406 feet over the left-center field fence off Reds reliever Brock Burke with one out in the fifth to give the Guardians a 6-2 lead.
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"Sat back on the slider in his first one, and then ambushed a heater in his second one," Vogt said. "So, really good to see Kyle — we've talked about him, I feel like, for a couple weeks now — really starting to swing the bat better. So, nice to see him drive the ball out of the yard."
Manzardo said he was "hunting a pitch out over the plate and trying to drive it" during his at-bats.
"I am focusing on getting my foot down a little bit earlier, letting my hips work a little bit more, and trying to be on time," Manzardo said.. "... I think the ball flies here really well when it's warm out."
Cleveland Guardians' Angel Martinez rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the seventh inning against the Cincinnati Reds on May 17, 2026, in Cleveland.
Martinez smacked a two-run home run off Reds reliever Connor Phillips with two outs in the seventh inning to give the Guardians an 8-2 lead. Steven Kwan walked before Martinez's homer went 407 feet over the fence in right field.
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"This is a pretty special team," said Martinez, who hit four home runs in a five-game span and leads the Guardians with nine home runs. "We have been playing together for a long time coming through the minor leagues."
With the game in hand and "Guards Ball" nowhere to be found, Ramirez launched a two-run home run off Reds reliever Tejay Antone with one out in the eighth to give the Guardians a 10-2 lead. Rocchio was hit by a pitch before Ramirez's 407-foot shot over the fence in right-center field.
Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez celebrates after scoring in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds on May 17, 2026, in Cleveland.
"It seems like his at-bat's are getting better really since right before the off day [on May 14]," Vogt said of Ramirez. "Just to see him jump that pitch, he got a hanger and didn't miss it."
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DeLauter and Ramirez finished Sunday tied for second on the Guardians with seven home runs apiece.
"We're trying to have quality [at-]bats, and we're trying to square up mistakes," Vogt said. "They threw us six home run balls today, and we hit them all."
Cleveland Guardians starter Gavin Williams throws a pitch in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds on May 17, 2026, in Cleveland.
Guardians starter Gavin Williams earns another win
Guardians starter Gavin Williams (6-3, 3.67 ERA) benefitted from the offensive explosion and pitched six innings, struck out seven and allowed eight hits, two earned runs and no walks. He also picked off his third base runner.
"I tried to make a little bit of adjustments here and there, flatten out in the delivery just a little bit, so trying to get back upright," Williams said. "Other than that, I felt good."
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Elly De La Cruz accounted for the Reds' first run with two outs in the third with a 400-foot homer off Williams over the fence in left-center field.
"I thought Gavin was really good," Vogt said. "A little bit off at first, just kind of with some command stuff, couldn't get the sweeper going, but he and Patty [catcher Patrick Bailey ] stuck with it, and they got it going."
Guardians second baseman Travis Bazzana hits a single during the sixth inning against the Los Angeles Angels, May 13, 2026, in Cleveland.
Guardians rookie Travis Bazzana records first three-hit game
Guardians rookie Travis Bazzana recorded his first three-hit game as a major leaguer with three singles in four at-bats.
"It's just been 'steady Eddie' since he's gotten here," Vogt said. "Travis doesn't try to do too much. We know he's got pull-side power, but teams aren't challenging him in right now. They're living away, and if you keep doing what you're doing, you keep driving the ball the other way, guess what they have to do? They start challenging you in.
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"He's taking his walks, playing good defense and giving us good base running."
Rocchio finished 2-for-3. DeLauter and Manzardo each went 2-for-5.
"We're young, right?" Vogt said. "And a lot of people don't get into their power until 25 to 28 [years old], and we're starting to get into those age ranges for a lot of our guys. As you get older, you learn when to take shots, you learn how to attack certain pitches.
"I don't know if we're going to be a 250-home-run team. I doubt it, but it was nice to see the ball fly out of here. Our first warm day. I think that had something to do with it, too."
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Akron Beacon Journal sports writer Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal .
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians get two home runs from Kyle Manzardo, win series vs. Reds
