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Guardians score vs Reds | Terry Francona's Reds beat Guardians in manager's return
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- Guardians score vs Reds | Terry Francona's Reds beat Guardians in manager's return
CLEVELAND — Tito is back in town.
The Guardians welcomed manager Terry Francona and the Cincinnati Reds for a three-game series that began June 9.
This was Francona's first trip back to Cleveland since momentarily retiring from managing after the 2023 season and an 11-year run as Guardians manager, which included a trip to the 2016 World Series.
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Before the game, Francona delivered a message to Cleveland fans .
Luis Ortiz (3-6, 4.02 ERA) took the mound against Reds lefty Wade Miley (0-0, 18.00 ERA).
Follow along for live score updates, analysis and highlights throughout June 9's game, which had a first-pitch time of 6:40 p.m.
Reds beat the Guardians, win the Ohio Cup
The Reds have beaten the Guardians 7-4 in Terry Francona's return, and they'll also take home the extremely coveted Ohio Cup.
It's another game in which the Guardians failed to score more than four runs, which is becoming a far-too-common theme for an AL contender.
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Guardians trail Reds entering 8th inning
Hey, look at that, the Reds scored one run in the top of the seventh via a Will Benson RBI single.
Bo Naylor then drilled a solo home run to right field in the bottom half of the seventh, his second homer of the homestand, to make it a 6-4 Reds lead.
Naylor adding a bit of punch to the bottom of the lineup is sorely needed.
Reds score in 5 consecutive innings
The Reds just keep putting up one run — no more, no less — every inning.
Gavin Lux added an RBI single off reliever Tim Herrin in the sixth, giving the Reds exactly one run in five consecutive innings and a 5-3 lead. The Guardians will be playing catch-up yet again.
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Reds re-take the lead over Guardians: Score update
With runners on the corners, Ortiz struck out Elly De La Cruz , but Christian Encarnacion-Strand brought home a run with a sacrifice fly, making it 4-3 Reds in the fifth inning. Ortiz has seemingly been scrambling all night.
Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez (11) steals third base against the Cincinnati Reds on June 9, 2025, in Cleveland, Ohio.
Jake Fraley home run ties Guardians-Reds game
Already with an RBI single tonight, Jake Fraley added a solo home run to right field to tie it 3-3 in the fourth inning. It's the second Reds home run tonight off Luis Ortiz .
Guardians take the lead over Reds in 3rd; Jose Ramirez extends on-base streak to 35 games
After Angel Martinez made it 2-1 with an RBI single to left field, Jose Ramirez tied it with an RBI single of his own, which extended his on-base streak to a career-high 35 games.
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Carlos Santana followed with a single up the middle that made it a three-run inning and a 3-2 Guardians lead.
It's the type of move-the-line rally the Guardians have struggled to put together lately.
Guardians, Reds score update: TJ Friedl home run extends Cincinnati lead
TJ Friedl belted a solo home run to right field in the top of the third inning that has given the Reds a 2-0 lead. Cincinnati has been knocking Luis Ortiz around a bit early on.
Jake Fraley gives Reds the lead in second inning
With two on in the second inning, Jake Fraley grounded a ball that found its way through the Guardians infield to break the scoreless deadlock and give the Reds a 1-0 lead against Cleveland starter Luis Ortiz.
Guardians, Reds score: Lane Thomas hits single in return from injured list
Lane Thomas, who was activated off the injured list prior to June 9's game, hit a single up the middle in the first inning. He also stole second base, but Wade Miley was able to escape the inning without any damage done. Thomas missed a few weeks with plantar fasciitis. Manager Stephen Vogt said before the game that Thomas is feeling the best he has in a long time.
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It's still scoreless after the first inning.
Below is some pregame information.
Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona (77) gestures to a player during the MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, at Great American Ball Park in Downtown Cincinnati.
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.
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.
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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.
Brennan appeared in six games for the Guardians, collecting only one hit.
Guardians lineup vs Reds
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Steven Kwan , LF
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Lane Thomas, CF
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Jose Ramirez, 3B
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David Fry , DH
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Carlos Santana, 1B
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Gabriel Arias , SS
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Johnathan Rodriguez, RF
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Bo Naylor, C
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Angel Martinez, 2B
MLB standings: AL Central Division
The American League Central Division standings entering Monday, June 9:
How can I watch, stream or listen to the Guardians vs Astros game?
Monday'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.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score vs Cincinnati Reds game updates, highlights, recap
