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Cueto goes distance, Reds get rare win in Cleveland

Aug 6, 2014 - 4:53 AM Cleveland, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Johnny Cueto tossed his fourth complete game of the season and the Reds snapped a 10-game skid in Cleveland with a 9-2 triumph Tuesday night.

Ramon Santiago clubbed a three-run homer and Jay Bruce went 3-for-5 with a solo shot and two RBI to help Cincinnati gain its first victory at Progressive Field since May 22, 2010. Kristopher Negron had a two-run double in the ninth.

Cueto (13-6) surrendered five hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts to win his fifth straight decision over a six-start span. It was his 10th career complete game.

"When he gets going, he's unstoppable," Reds catcher Brayan Pena said. "He was asking for that baseball from the get-go. He knew how important this game was for us. He really stepped up to the challenge."

Zack Cozart had a pair of hits and scored twice for the Reds, who suffered a 7-1 loss in the opener of the Ohio Cup matchup Monday. The series now shifts to Great American Ball Park for the final two contests, Wednesday and Thursday night, where the Reds have won 14 of the last 19 games against the Indians.

Indians starter Josh Tomlin (5-8), who was recalled from Triple-A Columbus Tuesday, allowed eight hits and six runs -- five earned -- in 4 1/3 innings.

"My main goal in the game is to not give up home runs and go as deep as I can in the game," Tomlin said.

The Reds scored in the opening inning thanks to an error by third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall. Todd Frazier was hit by a pitch and Ryan Ludwick doubled to left. Chisenhall then dropped a soft relay throw and the ball skipped into foul territory. An alert Frazier slid in safely at home.

Mike Aviles doubled with one out in the bottom of the first and scored when Michael Brantley grounded a single into right field.

Santiago's first homer of the year, a shot to right, came with Negron and Cozart aboard in the second for a 4-1 Reds lead.

Cozart tripled to start the fourth and came home on Bruce's infield single, a chopper that went to the right of the mound.

It became 6-1 the following inning. Chris Heisey and Pena singled to put men at the corners. Pena then broke for second, but while he was tagged out in a rundown, Heisey came home.

Cleveland had a promising rally cut short in the seventh. Yan Gomes doubled to the base of the wall in right to plate Chisenhall. David Murphy, who singled, went to third. A baseball got loose from the Reds bullpen beyond the wall in right and went in the vicinity of the cut-off man. Murphy seemed confused at the time, thinking the ball on the outfield grass was in play. He was thrown out trying to get back to third. That was the first out of the inning and Cueto retired the ensuing two batters to escape the frame.

Bruce homered to right leading off the ninth. Then, with the bases full, Negron doubled over the head of Murphy in right field. Pena tried to score from first, but he was tagged out at the plate. The Reds challenged the call, but the call stood even though it looked as if Gomes missed the swipe tag at the plate.

Game Notes

Outfielder Nyjer Morgan, who had been on the disabled list since May 15 with a sprained right knee, was released by the Indians Tuesday. To open a spot on the active roster for Tomlin, the Indians optioned outfielder Tyler Holt to Columbus ... Chisenhall's error was his 14th of the season ... Tomlin is 0-3 over his last five starts ... This was Cincinnati's first road win (1-6) against an American League team this season.