The Corner Rundown: Guardians Rally Past Reds, 7-4, Behind Angel Martínez’s Late Blast
Final Score: Cleveland Guardians 7, Cincinnati Reds 4
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
⚾ Key Performers
- Angel Martínez: 2-for-4, double, home run, 3 runs, 2 RBI. His go-ahead two-run shot in the seventh flipped the night for Cleveland.
- Brayan Rocchio: Delivered a two-run single in the second to get the Guardians on the board early.
- José Ramírez: Went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored, while also moving into sixth place on Cleveland’s all-time hits list.
- Kyle Manzardo: Added two hits and scored ahead of Martínez’s seventh-inning homer.
🧢 Game Summary
The Guardians needed a response after dropping the Ohio Cup opener, and they got one with a 7-4 comeback win over the Reds on Saturday night at Progressive Field.
Cleveland jumped ahead 2-0 in the second when Rocchio singled home Steven Kwan and Martínez. Cincinnati answered with a solo homer from Dane Myers in the third, then pushed across three more in the fifth to grab a 4-2 lead.
That could have been the turning point in the wrong direction. Instead, Cleveland chipped away. Kwan scored on a wild pitch in the sixth, Rhys Hoskins tied it with a sacrifice fly, and then Martínez gave the Guardians the swing of the night in the seventh. His 395-foot, two-run homer to right-center put Cleveland ahead 6-4 and brought Progressive Field back to life.
The bullpen handled the rest. Geoff Hartlieb, Erik Sabrowski, Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith combined for four scoreless innings, shutting down Cincinnati after the Reds had taken control in the middle frames.
📊 Notable Stats
- Cleveland finished with 7 runs on 10 hits and did not commit an error.
- Martínez’s homer was his eighth of the season.
- Joey Cantillo allowed four runs over five innings before the bullpen locked it down.
- The Guardians improved to 25-22 and remained in first place in the AL Central.
🎥 Watch the Highlights
💰 The Betting Corner
FanDuel had Cleveland favored entering Saturday’s game at -156 on the moneyline and -1.5 on the run line at +128. The Guardians not only won outright, they covered the run line with the three-run victory. The total was set at 8.5, and the combined 11 runs sent the game over.
For Sunday’s finale, FanDuel lists Cleveland as a -164 moneyline favorite with the Guardians at -1.5 (+128) on the run line. Cincinnati is listed at +138 on the moneyline and +1.5 (-154) on the run line. The total is set at 8.5.
🔜 Next Game
Matchup: Cincinnati Reds at Cleveland Guardians
Date/Time: Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:40 p.m. ET
Location: Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio
Probable Pitchers: Brady Singer for Cincinnati vs. Gavin Williams for Cleveland