Reds can't stop Jose Ramirez and lose 5-2 to Cleveland

After recovering from a 2-0 deficit late in the game and going six hitless innings, the Cincinnati Reds lost a short two-game series at Progressive Field in Cleveland by a final score of 5-2 to Jose Ramírez and the Cleveland Guardians.

Cleveland had a bullpen day and they were brilliant for most of the game tonight. Four Guardians pitchers delivered perfect performances for six innings. In the seventh inning, the Reds finally scored in both the hits and run columns. TJ Friedl opened the inning with a bunt single, reached second base on an errant pick-off throw and scored when Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez made an error trying to throw out Elly De La Cruz at first base. The Reds tied the game in the eighth inning with a Jake Fraley double with one out and a Santiago Espinal single that Lane Thomas botched in center field.

Meanwhile, Jakob Junis was working on a very good final start of the season. He allowed a home run to Steven Kwan, but then calmed down and struck out the next six Cleveland batters. In the bottom of the fourth inning, he allowed a Jose Ramírez triple off the wall in right-center field and a Josh Naylor single on the next pitch for the Guardians' second run of the game. Junis allowed just those two runs on four hits in five innings. He struck out three players and walked a batter, a rarity if you've followed Junis' stats closely. That start lowered his ERA to 1.44 with the Reds and 2.69 for the season.

Tony Santillan and Buck Farmer combined for two perfect innings in the sixth and seventh innings. Emilio Pagán entered the game in the eighth inning with the game tied and almost got out of the inning unscathed, allowing back-to-back two-out singles by Kwan and Kyle Manzardo that brought in Ramírez. Ramírez didn't miss the opportunity, hitting the ball to right field for his 38th home run of the season, giving the Guardians the lead.

Emmanuel Clase tied the game in the ninth inning, earning his 47th save, but it wasn't without drama. The Reds had all the bases loaded and no outs, but Spencer Steer hit a hard line drive to shortstop, Ty France struck out with momentum, and Jake Fraley hit a ground drive to Ramírez for the third and final out.

Key moment of the game

Jose Ramírez's two-out, three-run home run gave the Guardians a 5-2 lead in the eighth inning.

Notes

-Junis allowed a walk to Bo Naylor in the fifth inning. It was only his second walk since his trade on July 29.

-The Guardians' bullpen entered the game with an MLB-record 2.60 ERA. Every reliever who pitched for the Guardians tonight has an ERA under 2.00.

-Cleveland won both games of the season 3-1.

Next up for the Cincinnati Reds

Thursday, September 26: Day off

Cincinnati Reds at Chicago Cubs

Friday, September 27, 2:20 p.m. EDT

Nick Martinez (10-6, 3.22 ERA) vs. Jameson Taillon (11-8, 3.41 ERA)