Tribe drops first game of series to Cincinnati

The Indians fell to the Reds, 3-2, in the first game of their Ohio Cup series in Cincinnati. They were playing without manager Terry Francona, who is out with a gastrointestinal condition.

CINCINNATI » Joey Votto hit a two-run, go-ahead homer, Nick Castellanos also connected and the Reds beat Cleveland, 3-2, on Aug. 3 as the Indians played again without ill manager Terry Francona.

Sonny Gray shook off a tough start to the game to complete six strong innings, and Cincinnati ended a sixgame home losing streak against their in-state rival.

Votto snapped an 0-for11

REDS 3, INDIANS 2

Up next: The series continues at 6:10 p.m. Aug. 4. Shane Bieber gets the start for the Tribe.

skid when he followed Shogo Akiyama’s leadoff single in the sixth with a no-doubt shot off Zach Plesac (0-1). The 2010 NL MVP sat out a doubleheader Aug. 2 after self-reporting coronavirus symptoms, but he was cleared to return to the lineup Aug. 3 and hit his third homer following a negative test.

Grounds crew seated behind first base cheered and played instruments — some provided by Votto — as he rounded the bases, and Votto pointed to the fan section after touching home plate.

Francona missed his second straight game and the first of four straight RedsIndians games while dealing in Cleveland with a gastrointestinal condition not believed to be connected to COVID-19. First base and catching coach Sandy Alomar managed in Francona’s absence.

The series shifts on Aug. 5 to Cleveland for the final two games.

The Indians led 2-0 after two innings, scoring as many runs off Gray as they scored while losing three straight over the weekend in Minnesota.

Gray (3-0) gave up two hits in the first inning, including Francisco Lindor’s third home run of the season, a two-out line drive into the right field seats for a 1-0 lead.

Gray’s control problems led to Cleveland’s secondinning run. Oscar Mercado singled softly to center field, advanced to second on Gray’s errant pickoff throw and came around to score on two wild pitches.

Gray retired 12 straight batters before Lindor singled with one out in the fifth. He allowed four hits and two runs, one earned, with two walks and eight strikeouts.

Michael Lorenzen pitched a 1-2-3 seventh, Nate Jones struck out Lindor with two outs and the tying run at third in the eighth, and Raisel Iglesias pitched the ninth for the Reds’ first 2020 save.

Plesac extended his shutout streak to 11 innings over two starts this season before Castellanos lined a shot into the left-center seats for his fifth homer leading off the fourth inning.