Angel Martinez hits big home run, Guardians even series against Reds with 7-4 win

CLEVELAND — It's been just like heaven for Angel Martinez. Martinez's two-out, two-run homer broke a tie in the seventh inning and helped send Cleveland to a 7-4 victory over Cincinnati at Progressive Field on Saturday night. The second-year outfielder has gone deep in three of his last four games, and has eight homers in 43 games after hitting 10 in 139 games last season. "It's nothing that I didn't know," shortstop Brayan Rocchio said. "He's been doing that since he was in the minor leagues. It's something that I know he can be. He's gonna be a superstar." "I just believe in all the work that I have put in taking me to the spot that I'm at right now," Martinez said. "I know that I'm capable to do what I'm doing. Honestly, I'm not trying to get too high. This game can humble you really quick. So (I'm) just enjoying the moment, and what happened today, it doesn't matter tomorrow. That's it." Joey Cantillo's 10th start began well, but ended poorly. The left-hander retired eight of the first nine he faced and allowed only a run and two hits through four innings. But Cantillo walked three and allowed the Reds to score three times to take a 4-2 lead in the fifth. "I thought the first four innings were outstanding. The fifth inning looked like he just kind of lost his command a little bit," manager Stephen Vogt said. "There were a couple huge 3-2 pitches that they took for ball four, but I thought the way Joey was throwing the ball, he earned the right to get through that inning, and he obviously gave us a chance to win." "Obviously, the boys kind of picked me up today and Angel did his thing, bullpen does what they do. It was huge," Cantillo said. "Obviously, just winning the game is huge, but I gotta finish a lot better and I know that." The bullpen supported Cantillo by shutting out Cincinnati on a hit and a walk over the final four innings. Closer Cade Smith, who is tied for the major league lead with 14 saves, converted his 11th straight opportunity, striking out two of the four batters in the ninth. Reds starter Chris Paddack retired the first five batters before allowing a line-drive single to Steven Kwan in his first at-bat out of the leadoff spot to start a game since 2022. Paddack hit Martinez and walked Austin Hedges on a 3-2 pitch to load the bases for Rocchio, who fell behind 0-2 and fouled off multiple pitches before shooting a liner just past diving shortstop Elly De La Cruz for a two-run single. Rocchio, who reached base in three of four trips to the plate, is batting a team-leading .389 (14-for-36) with runners in scoring position. "I'm not trying to do too much," he said. "I'm trying to be a guy who gets on base, gets the line moving. If I have opportunities to bring RBIs, I do my best to put the team in the best position." The Guardians only needed one hit to score twice and tie the game at 4 in the sixth. Kwan drew a leadoff walk, advanced to third on Martinez's double and scored on a wild pitch, while Martinez moved to third on the wild pitch and came home with the tying run on pinch hitter Rhys Hoskins' sacrifice fly. Kyle Manzardo started the seventh with a base hit, but Travis Bazzana and Kwan struck out before Martinez drove a 2-1 fastball into the seats in right-center to put Cleveland in front for good. "From the time I met him in spring 2024 to now, it is exponential growth, both as a player (and) cerebral," Vogt said of Martinez. "Man, he's an instinctual baseball player, the understanding, the ability to play all three outfield positions, good baserunner, good base stealer. Angel's really grown into a really good player. We just need to keep pushing him. We need to keep helping him grow faster and faster." Jose Ramirez had two hits to move past Lou Boudreau for sixth (1,707) in franchise history. Charlie Jamieson is fifth with 1,753. Ramirez also stole two bases to bring his season total to an AL-leading 20. He is the first Cleveland player since Kenny Lofton (30) in 1996 to steal 20 or more bases in his first 47 games. Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @CAwesomeheimer on X.