Instant Reaction: Will Benson Homers in Third Straight Game, Reds Beat Guardians 4-1

The Reds have won three straight games.

Cincinnati Reds right fielder Will Benson (30) gestures as he rounds third base for home after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of the MLB game between Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on Saturday, May 17, 2025. | Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Cincinnati Reds (23-24) beat the Cleveland Guardians (25-20) 4-1 on Saturday night. Here are our postgame takeaways:

Bullpen Day Comes Together

On a day where Brent Suter was expected to start and Chase Petty would follow, the Reds kept it close and Petty never ended up pitching.

Suter started the game with three scoreless innings. Lyon Richardson followed with two innings. He allowed a solo home run.

Luis Mey added a perfect sixth inning. Tony Santillan followed with two scoreless innings of his own.

Emilio Pagan pitched the ninth and picked up his 11th save of the season. You simply couldn't ask for more from the Reds' bullpen.

Will Benson Powers Offense Again

In the fifth inning with the Reds trailing 1-0, Will Benson hit his third home run of the season to tie the game at one. It was the first time in his career that Benson has homered in three consecutive games.

In the sixth, Santiago Espinal squared to bunt with TJ Friedl on second base, but pulled it back and blooped a single into right field to give the Reds a 2-1 lead. Austin Hays followed with an RBI double.

In the seventh, Rece Hinds hit the hardest ball of the game at 109.8 mph, for his second home run that flew over the center field wall.

News and Notes

• Will Benson homered for three straight games for the first time in his career.
• Santiago Espinal stole his second base of the season.
• Matt McLain has reached base in 17 straight games.
• Luis Mey has not allowed a run in seven straight games.
• The Reds are 12-3 when hitting two or more home runs.
• The Reds are 19-6 when scoring four or more runs.

Up Next

The Reds and Guardians will play the series finale on Sunday at 1:40 ET. Andrew Abbott will start for Cincinnati.

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