Like in euchre, the right Bauer trumps all.

Today, Trevor Bauer was righteous if not perfect as he delivered another fantastic start in leading the Indians to a 5-2 victory, extending their winning streak to six, and sending the struggling Reds to their first 8-game losing streak since 2009.

Bauer battled for 7.2 innings, giving up no walks and only 5 hits, along with 4 strikeouts. The sole run against him came on a solo homer by Marlon Byrd in the seventh inning.

Meanwhile, the Reds gift-wrapped more runs than the Tribe’s offense deserved. Only 2 of Cleveland’s 5 runs were earned, with David Murphy knocking in Carlos Santana from second in the the third inning, and Santana returning the favor by knocking in Jason Kipnis from second in the eighth. Both Santana and Kipnis led off those respective innings with a double. The eighth inning insurance run felt especially rewarding since it came off of the flame-throwing Aroldis Chapman.

The biggest presents came in the sixth when Reds reliever JJ Hoover botched a come-backer from comeback catcher Yan Gomes to allow the Tribe’s lead-off hitter to get aboard. After two walks and two outs, Reds first baseman Joey Votto speared a hot grounder from Michael Brantley. Votto, who turned in multiple spectacular defensive plays in this series and looked poised to deliver another, spun back and led Hoover covering first by just a little too much as the ball got by him. Two unearned runs scored to create a deficit from which the Reds would not recover.

Some other notes and observations:

  • The Indians had plenty of other opportunities to score but left 13 runners stranded. Santana missed a grand slam by about a foot in the sixth before popping out to the second baseman. Nick Swisher also had at least a couple of bases-loaded RBIs robbed in the bottom of the eighth when a diving Jay Bruce snared Swish’s liner in right field.
  • Lonnie Chisenhall went 0 for 4 to reach a now 0 for18 skid.
  • Cody Allen gave up the Reds’ second run in the ninth, walking Jay Bruce and yielding an RBI double to Brayan Pena. C’mon, Cody. No walks in the ninth, especially with a four run lead.
  • Recently acquired Reds reliever Ryan Mattheus has either the coolest or most ridiculous look-in from the mound.While reading the catcher’s signs, he spreads the back of his mitt and holds it just below his eyes. Looks like Dracula searching for his next victim.

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