Cleveland Indians, Cincinnati Reds: Reds Withstand Tribe Rally

5 - 22 - 10     Cincinnati Reds 6 at Cleveland 4     Cleveland (15 - 26), Cincinnati (25 - 18)

     Going into the ninth inning, it appeared as if the Indians had no chance to knock off the Reds and even the two teams' interleague series, but by the end of the night, the Tribe had blown a chance to win the game.
     Cincinnati took a 6 - 2 lead into that final frame by taking advantage of three Cleveland defensive miscues.  In the first, Joey Votto and Jay Bruce each contributed RBI singles, and a Trevor Crowe throwing error aided the Redlegs' cause.  Laynce Nix blasted a two - run homer to right field in the fourth, and Cincy looked to have the game in hand.  A two - run shot off the bat of Travis Hafner in the sixth made things a little closer, yet the contest still entered the ninth with the visitors up by four.
     Francisco Cordero was summoned from the Reds' bullpen, and he promptly gave up singles to Matt LaPorta and Shelley Duncan, putting two on with only one out.  The hit was Duncan's first as an Indian.  A Russell Branyan walk loaded the bases and Crowe smacked a two - run single to the gap in left - center that brought the Tribe within two and put the tying tallies on base.  The next two batters, however, were retired as Shin - Soo Choo struck out and Austin Kearns flew out.  Cincy had taken Cleveland's best punch and survived.
     Both starting pitchers went six innings, yet only the Reds' Johnny Ceto was any good.  Cueto allowed just two runs while Fausto Carmona gave up five, three earned.