Guardians put together most complete performance of the year in win over Reds

It can’t be overstated how much the Guardians needed a game like Wednesday. 

After limping through most of the past two weeks, the Guardians offense broke out in a big way in Wednesday’s 11-2 win over the Reds. 

And not only did it confirm the team will have a happy flight across the country ahead of their series against the Mariners over the weekend, it also showcased how good this team can be. 

Guardians showcase how they can be in win over Reds

It was like the Guardians win was designated to quash all the storylines around the team. Lane Thomas smacked a three-run home run and made a stellar catch in his best game of the year.

Logan Allen worked around two solo home runs and pitched six strong innings for the second straight start. Carlos Santana and Kyle Manzaro both had big games. 

While one game doesn’t fix the Guardians’ problems, it does make their struggles feel a little less pronounced compared to 24 hours ago. 

After only scoring 10 runs in their first five games against the Reds this year, they scored 11 in nine innings in an easy win. It feels like forever since they’ve had one of those. 

The biggest bright spot might have come in the form of Allen, who tossed six solid innings, marking the first time he went six innings in back-to-back starts since last May.

While he’s not known for his strikeouts, he got six whiffs on his fastball and four on his changeup — a testament to how deceptive his stuff can look when he’s on. 

The Guardians also got some much-needed production from some of the more unheralded players in the lineup. Johnathan Rodríguez recorded his first extra base hit of the year, while Dom Nuñez went 2-for-4 in his second start of the year. Even Ángel Martínez got in on the action going 3-for-4 from the No. 9 spot in the lineup. 

In short, it was ‘Guards Ball’ at its finest. And it came on a day when Steven Kwan wasn’t in the lineup. 

It’s no secret that the Guardians lineup goes as José Ramírez goes. He’s the heartbeat in the middle of the lineup who is just as dangerous in the batter’s box as he is on the basepaths — but he also can’t do it all. He needs Lane Thomas to get two hits or for Carlos Santana to put one in the seats (the fact it was a grand slam makes it even better). 

The same can be said for the bullpen. They didn’t need to use any of their high-leverage guys outside of giving Emmanuel Clase some work in the ninth inning, so they’re fully loaded ahead of a big west coast road trip. 

And while that road trip may not make or break the Guardians season, it's their most important trip of the season. And, thanks to their outburst today, they'll have some good vibes once the series starts.