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Reds, Indians continue battle for Ohio Cup

Aug 5, 2014 - 2:39 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Cleveland Indians will put their home domination of the Cincinnati Reds to the test on Tuesday evening as they take their swings against Johnny Cueto in the continuation of the Ohio Cup.

The Tribe opened up a string of four straight versus the Reds with a 7-1 victory on Monday, their 10th win in a row at home over Cincinnati.

These clubs had split 10 total meetings over the previous two seasons, but Cincinnati has not won in Cleveland since May 22, 2010.

Following tonight's meeting, the Reds will host the Indians for two straight games to close the series. They hope to do so with a split of the first two contests and turn to Cueto, who is unbeaten in his career versus Cleveland.

Cueto is 3-0 with a 2.10 earned run average in five lifetime meetings with the Indians and comes into this outing 7-1 in his last 10 starts overall with 69 strikeouts in 66 2/3 innings.

The right-hander won his second straight start and fourth decision in a row on Thursday at Miami, giving up a run on four hits and a walk. He fanned nine batters over seven innings for a second straight start.

Cueto, 28, is 12-6 with a 2.05 ERA that ranks second in the National League. His 166 strikeouts also are second most in the league.

The Reds ace will try to shut down a Cleveland offense that scored in the first inning last night and never looked back. Michael Brantley drove in a run in the opening frame with a ground out and ended with two RBI, while Yan Gomes hit a two-run shot in the Tribe's fourth straight victory.

Lonnie Chisenhall added a three-run homer in support of Corey Kluber, who took a shutout into the eighth inning and won his fifth straight decision. He gave up a run and fanned seven over 7 1/3 frames.

"Any time you score in the first inning and get off to that kind of start, it's always nice for the confidence of the team," Kluber said. "We kept adding on."

Alfredo Simon was charged with six hits and five runs over five frames and lost his fourth consecutive start.

Brayan Pena doubled in Cincinnati's only run as the Reds went 1-for-10 with men in scoring position Monday and left 11 runners on base. They were coming off a weekend in which they took three of four from the Marlins.

"We're not going to pitch perfectly every game," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We've had to be a good situational offensive club, and we just didn't show up to play. That was disappointing."

With Zach McAllister designated for assignment on Friday, the Indians will recall Josh Tomlin from Triple-A Columbus for his first start since July 25.

Tomlin faced Kansas City on that day and allowed four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out five without giving up a walk, but yielded a pair of homers.

That wrapped a month in which Tomlin went 0-2 with a 6.45 ERA in four starts, allowing six home runs, and he is 5-7 with a 4.47 ERA on the year. He gave up two runs -- both on solo homers -- over five innings for Columbus on Thursday.

The 29-year-old is 1-1 with a 4.08 ERA in three previous starts versus the Reds.