Indians 5, Reds 2
CLEVELAND -- Trevor Bauer pitched into the eighth inning and Cleveland took advantage of three Cincinnati errors as the Indians completed a three game sweep by beating the Reds 5-2 Sunday at Progressive Field.
Two of Cleveland's five runs were unearned, thanks to an uncharacteristic three Cincinnati errors. The Reds came into the game with 17 errors, the fewest in the major leagues.
The win extends the Indians' winning streak to six games while the Reds have lost eight in a row, their longest losing streak since 2009.
The right-handed Bauer (4-1) pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Right-hander Raisel Iglesias (1-1) took the loss.
In the first two innings Iglesias struck out five of the first 10 batters he faced. He also gave up two walks and two doubles, but he was able to keep Cleveland off the scoreboard.
That changed in the third inning, however, when the Indians rallied for two runs. First baseman Carlos Santana led off with a double. Center fielder Michael Brantley struck out, but right fielder Brandon Moss drew a walk.
Left fielder David Murphy singled, scoring Santana with the first run of the game. The second run scored when second baseman Brandon Phillips booted a grounder hit by designated hitter Nick Swisher. The error allowed Moss to score and gave Cleveland a 2-0 lead.
The Reds had base runners in each of the first three innings against Bauer but were unable to score. Bauer then settled in and in the middle innings retired 12 men in a row at one point.
Iglesias was removed from the game after the third inning. He gave up two runs on four hits with six strikeouts and three walks. The Indians, without getting a hit, scored two more runs, and Cincinnati committed two more errors, in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Catcher Yan Gomes, leading off the inning, reached base on an error by right-hander J.J. Hoover. Third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall grounded out, but shortstop Mike Aviles drew a walk. Second baseman Jason Kipnis also drew a walk, loading the bases with one out.
Santana popped out for the second out, but Brantley hit a sharp grounder to first baseman Joey Votto. Votto made a sprawling stop of the grounder, but his throw to first was out of reach for Hoover covering the bag. It went as an error on Votto. Gomes and Aviles both scored to give the Indians a 4-0 lead.
Cincinnati got a run back in the seventh inning on a solo home run by Marlon Byrd over the left field wall, his ninth homer of the year.
An RBI single by Santana in the eighth inning off Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman completed the Indians' scoring. Catcher Brayan Pena's RBI double off right-hander Cody Allen in the ninth inning drove in Cincinnati's other run.
NOTES: The Indians activated C Yan Gomes off the disabled list. Gomes had been on the DL since April 12 with a sprained right knee. ... To make room on the roster, C Brett Hayes was designated for assignment. ... Reds RHP Johnny Cueto was originally scheduled to start Sunday's game, but he was scratched due to a sore right elbow. ... Reds 2B Brandon Phillips on Sunday played in the 1,499th major league game of his career.