Homers fly as Reds beat Guardians in Tito's return to Cleveland

CLEVELAND — Jake Fraley, had three hits, including a home run in the fourth inning, and Wade Miley got his first win since 2023 as the Cincinnati Reds beat the Guardians 7-4 Monday night in Terry Francona's return to Progressive Field. T.J. Friedl also went deep for the Reds, who have won four straight and are over .500 for the first time since May 19. Bo Naylor had a solo shot for Cleveland. The Guardians have dropped four of five overall and have lost all four of their meetings with the Reds this season. Francona managed Cleveland for 11 seasons (2013-23) before being hired by the Reds last October. Miley (1-0) got the win in his second game and first start since signing a one-year deal with the Reds on June 4. He went five innings and allowed three runs and five hits. The 38-year-old left-hander signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Feb. 4 and was with the club during spring training as he worked his way back from Tommy John surgery. He made four starts for Triple-A Louisville before opting out of his minor-league deal on June 1. He signed with the Reds three days later after Hunter Greene was placed on the injured list due to a groin injury. Emilio Pagán picked up his 16th save. With two outs in the fourth inning, Fraley connected on a slider from Cleveland starter Luis Ortiz (3-7) and put into the stands in right center to tie the game at 3. Friedl led off the third inning by driving a 97.9 mile fastball from Ortiz over the wall in right-center. Christian Encarnacion-Strand then put the Reds on top in the fifth with a sacrifice fly to drive in Friedl. The Reds have won the season series from their in-state rival for the first time since 2014. Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas was activated off the injured list before the game. Thomas missed 11 games because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. Thomas has played in only 17 games this season and entered the night batting .119 (7-for-59). He missed five weeks due to a right wrist bone bruise after getting hit by a pitch during the April 8 home opener against the Chicago White Sox. Infielder Will Wilson was optioned to Triple-A Columbus to make room for Thomas. The Guardians also announced that pitcher Andrew Walters and outfielder Will Brennan had surgery Monday. Walters had right shoulder surgery to repair the latissimus dorsi (lat). Walters was injured during a May 29 game against the Los Angeles Angeles. Shoulder specialist Dr. Anthony Romeo performed the surgery on Walters in Chicago. Brennan underwent Tommy John surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. The procedure was done in Dallas after Brennan consulted with the team's medical staff and specialist Dr. Keith Meister. Walters and Brennan are scheduled to report to the Guardians spring training complex in Goodyear, Ariz., in the coming days to begin rehabilitation. Walters is expected to miss 8-10 months, while Brennan could be out 6-8 months.