Guardian's Carlos Santana delivers vintage blast to clinch Ohio Cup after 15 years of debut
Image Source: Getty
Carlos Santana blew a memorable night for Guardians fans after 15 years since his Major League debut. The veteran first baseman slammed a third-inning grand slam to help propel Cleveland to an 11-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the final game—and bragging rights—of the 2025 edition of the Ohio Cup.
Cleveland, now 35–32, was able to leapfrog other teams while Cincinnati dropped to 35–34.
Carlos Santana's grand slam fuels explosive third inning
The offense broke out after the Guardians were down 1–0, headed to the bottom of the third. Carlos Santana then stepped to the plate with a set of bases loaded and obliterated a grand slam, changing the course of the game in an instant as they put Cleveland ahead 4–1. On this 15th anniversary of his debut, his blast to right-center sent Progressive Field into a frenzy — a reminder of both his legacy and the value of his second act.
Cleveland got another two in the fourth and four more in the sixth to complete the rout. The night earned Santana four RBIs, and all of them were delivered from that singular iconic swing. It was his first grand slam since returning to Cleveland this year and one of the oldest in franchise history to hit one.
Cleveland Guardians
dominate as pitching and hitting align
The Cleveland offense battered Cincinnati for 13 hits and 11 runs, while their pitching limited the Reds to 5 hits and 2 runs.
Cincinnati managed runs in the third and fifth innings, with no serious rally, however. The Guardians were equally as sharp defensively, not committing an error.
This win not only broke a five-game losing streak against the Reds, but also prevented them from sweeping the Ohio Cup series. They were the kind of Guardians we saw basking in the glow of the postseason last year, relentless up and down the lineup, and a confident bullpen slamming the door shut by the end of the night.
Also Read:
MLB stars Carlos Santana, Julio Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, and Amed Rosario attend NBA match during the off-season
Carlos Santana's grand slam wasn't just a highlight; it was a message. At age 39, and 15 years into his MLB journey, he remains a game-changer. For Cleveland, that's more than nostalgia—it's fuel for a postseason run.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
18 hours ago
- Time of India
Germaine Pratt accused of chasing money as he ditches Bengals for Raiders after career year
Former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt has signed a one-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, marking a major defensive addition in the AFC West. The veteran defender joins after a career-best 2024 season and brings experience, consistency, and leadership to a reshuffled Raiders roster. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Raiders plug defensive gap with proven tackler Germaine Pratt's contract is reportedly valued at $4.25 million base with potential incentives pushing the figure to nearly $4.8 million. His signing addresses a critical need for the Raiders, who lost linebackers Robert Spillane and Divine Deablo earlier in the offseason. The 28-year-old had a standout 2024 season, posting a career-high 143 tackles, 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and 2 recoveries across 17 starts. Drafted in 2019 by the Bengals out of NC State, Pratt has tallied over 600 career tackles, evolving into one of the most consistent performers in Cincinnati's defense over the past six seasons. Pete Carroll gets his defensive enforcer On June 9, the Bengals released Pratt in a move that saved the team nearly $5.8 million in salary cap space. The decision followed changes in the coaching staff, including the dismissal of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, after which Pratt had reportedly requested a trade. Pratt is best remembered in Cincinnati for his game-winning interception against the Raiders in the 2021 Wild Card Round, which secured the Bengals' first playoff victory in over three decades. His arrival in Las Vegas reunites him with a coaching staff focused on physicality and experience. Head coach Pete Carroll and DC Patrick Graham now have a versatile, sideline-to-sideline tackler who can anchor the middle of their evolving defensive setup. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Fan backlash adds to controversy While the move makes sense financially and strategically, it hasn't gone down well with all Bengals fans. One X user fumed, 'Bengals' horrible defense is getting worse at an alarming rate.' Another wrote bluntly, 'Bengals do not believe in Defense.' A third went as far as calling Cincinnati the 'Worst organization in the league.' These reactions reflect a growing sentiment that Pratt may have prioritized financial gain over continuity — a perception amplified by the timing of his exit and the reported contract value. Also read: With quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert leading rival offenses, the Raiders' investment in experienced defenders signals a push to remain competitive in a high-powered division. For Pratt, this new chapter offers both a fresh start and a platform to raise his profile as one of the league's more underrated linebackers.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Guardian's Carlos Santana delivers vintage blast to clinch Ohio Cup after 15 years of debut
Image Source: Getty Carlos Santana blew a memorable night for Guardians fans after 15 years since his Major League debut. The veteran first baseman slammed a third-inning grand slam to help propel Cleveland to an 11-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds in the final game—and bragging rights—of the 2025 edition of the Ohio Cup. Cleveland, now 35–32, was able to leapfrog other teams while Cincinnati dropped to 35–34. Carlos Santana's grand slam fuels explosive third inning The offense broke out after the Guardians were down 1–0, headed to the bottom of the third. Carlos Santana then stepped to the plate with a set of bases loaded and obliterated a grand slam, changing the course of the game in an instant as they put Cleveland ahead 4–1. On this 15th anniversary of his debut, his blast to right-center sent Progressive Field into a frenzy — a reminder of both his legacy and the value of his second act. Cleveland got another two in the fourth and four more in the sixth to complete the rout. The night earned Santana four RBIs, and all of them were delivered from that singular iconic swing. It was his first grand slam since returning to Cleveland this year and one of the oldest in franchise history to hit one. Cleveland Guardians dominate as pitching and hitting align The Cleveland offense battered Cincinnati for 13 hits and 11 runs, while their pitching limited the Reds to 5 hits and 2 runs. Cincinnati managed runs in the third and fifth innings, with no serious rally, however. The Guardians were equally as sharp defensively, not committing an error. This win not only broke a five-game losing streak against the Reds, but also prevented them from sweeping the Ohio Cup series. They were the kind of Guardians we saw basking in the glow of the postseason last year, relentless up and down the lineup, and a confident bullpen slamming the door shut by the end of the night. Also Read: MLB stars Carlos Santana, Julio Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, and Amed Rosario attend NBA match during the off-season Carlos Santana's grand slam wasn't just a highlight; it was a message. At age 39, and 15 years into his MLB journey, he remains a game-changer. For Cleveland, that's more than nostalgia—it's fuel for a postseason run.
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
How Cincinnati Reds plan to seal Ohio Cup dominance with final win over Cleveland Guardians
Cincinnati Reds (Image Source: Getty Images) The Cincinnati Reds have a chance to wrap up their most overwhelming season series against the Cleveland Guardians in more than a decade on Wednesday, as the finale of the three-game set at Progressive Field also offers the chance to sweep the Guardians and win the Ohio Cup. Nick Lodolo, a left-handed starting pitcher, will get the ball to start the game on behalf of the Cincinnati Reds, and he will have a heavy burden to bear as his team tries to continue their astonishing five-game winning streak and, at the same time, make a statement by defeating the Cleveland Guardians, which would be their first season series win over them since 2014. Nick Lodolo faces crucial test against Cleveland Guardians offense Nick Lodolo faces crucial test against Cleveland Guardians offense (Image Source: Getty Images) Nick Lodolo will take the mound on Wednesday in the rubber match against the Cleveland Guardians with mediocre success, going 1-1 with a troubling 6.30 ERA in two career starts against their Ohio opponents. The left-hander has to snap his history of not performing well against the Cleveland lineup, especially with José Ramírez still in his stellar form as he enters the game with a 36-game on-base streak in which he has registered a .388 batting average with seven home runs and 18 RBIs since April 30th. On the other side, the Cleveland Guardians present Logan Allen, who also has a good morale in his last match against the Cincinnati Reds two years ago, where he pitched six shutout innings to claim the win. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Simple. Clean. Solitaire Play Solitaire Download Undo The fact that Allen is 3-4 with a 4.42 ERA this year indicates that he is vulnerable, and the Cincinnati Reds' offence will look to take advantage of that, given that Spencer Steer has been hitting in the clutch as of late despite his low season average of .230. Andrew Abbott 's dominance sets stage for Cincinnati Reds championship moment Andrew Abbott has become the face of the Ohio Cup effort by the Cincinnati Reds, and he has stampeded his way to the top of the contention for the Frank Robinson Most Outstanding Player Award with his perfect 2-0 record and 14 scoreless innings pitched in two starts against the Cleveland Guardians this year. The three-hitter he threw Tuesday night in a 1-0 win not only gave him his first career complete game, but also showed the depth in pitching that has helped the Cincinnati Reds to their present five-game winning streak. Psychologically, the effects of the masterpiece by Abbott could not be overstated because it was the first time the Cleveland Guardians were blanked 1-0 at Progressive Field since August 9, 2023, by the Toronto Blue Jays. That supremacy has seen the Cleveland Guardians lose back-to-back home series in the first since August 2023, piling more pressure on Stephen Vogt to ensure his team does not suffer the embarrassment of being swept in the season. Where to watch: Wednesday's series finale between the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Guardians will be broadcast live on Bally Sports Ohio and Bally Sports Great Lakes, with first pitch scheduled for 1:10 PM ET at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Also Read: Yankees give big update on Giancarlo Stanton after injury kept him out all season It might not seem like much, but the quest of the Cincinnati Reds to win the Ohio Cup is not merely about bragging rights in the Buckeye State rivalry; it would also crown their most successful season against an American League Central Division team in a long time. With Terry Francona's team displaying championship-quality pitching and timely hitting in this series, the final game of this series on Wednesday will provide the dramatic finish that the Ohio baseball fans want, and it may also crownthe Cincinnati Reds as the best professional baseball team in the state.
