CLEVELAND (AP) — Tyler Naquin homered in the fifth inning and scored on Kyle Farmer’s go-ahead single in the eighth, leading the Reds to a 4-2 win over the Guardians.
It was Cincinnati’s first series sweep of its Ohio neighbors since 2014.
The Reds won both games in this rain-delayed interleague set, and are showing some positive signs after starting the season 3-21.
They’re 8-5 since May 5.
Naquin triggered the Reds’ rally in the eighth with a single and had another good game against the Guardians, who drafted him in 2012.
In eight games against Cleveland, Naquin is batting .419 (13 for 31) with two doubles, five homers and six RBIs.
Manager Terry Francona was back with Guardians after missing four games with COVID-19.
Ramirez injured in loss
Guardians star third baseman José Ramírez will undergo X-rays and other imaging tests on his right shin after being injured during an at-bat in the loss to the Reds.
Ramírez collapsed in pain after fouling a ball off his shin in the eighth inning.
After going going down, he rolled onto his back in the dirt near home plate and needed several minutes to recover. He hobbled back into the batter’s box and promptly hit an RBI single.
Francona said the ball hit off Ramírez’s leg just above a protective pad.