🧢 Reds 4 – Guardians 1 (May 17, 2025 • Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH)
🔥 Key Performers
- Will Benson: 2-for-4 with a three‑run homer in the 5th—his third straight game with a homer and the bat that broke Cleveland’s backs. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- Daniel Schneemann: Solo homer in the 5th that gave Cleveland a 1‑0 lead. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Slade Cecconi: 5 innings, 3 ER, 8 K—solid debut after a long IL stint, but took the loss. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Brady Singer: 5 strong innings for Cincinnati, earning the win and holding Cleveland to one run. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
📝 Game Summary
Cleveland struck first when Daniel Schneemann launched a solo shot in the 5th to take a brief lead. But Will Benson responded with a massive three-run homer in the bottom of the inning, part of his third consecutive game with a long ball. Slade Cecconi made a strong first impression in his Guardians debut after returning from oblique injury, striking out eight over five innings. Cincinnati held on as Cleveland’s rally died, and the bullpen shut the door the rest of the way. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
📊 Notable Stats
- Benson homered in his third straight game—first time in his career he’s done that. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- Cecconi recorded 8 Ks with no walks—joining Tanner Bibee (2023) and Floyd Weaver (1962) as only Guardians starters with 8+ strikeouts and zero walks in debut. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- Cleveland stranded 7 runners despite scoring first—couldn’t string the hits together. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
🎬 Watch the Highlights
📅 Next Game
The series finale is Sunday, May 18 at 1:10 PM ET, with the Guardians heading home to take on Detroit.
Probable Pitchers: Gavin Williams (CLE) vs. Tarik Skubal (DET)