Guardian's Carlos Santana delivers vintage blast to clinch Ohio Cup after 15 years of debut
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.
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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.
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