CINCINNATI, Ohio (Interstat) — JJ Bleday hit a solo home run in the first inning and Jose Franco led a relay of Reds pitchers as Cincinnati blanked Cleveland 2-0 on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, in the second game of a doubleheader at Great American Ball Park.

Bleday’s drive to right field, his 18th homer, gave Cincinnati a 1-0 lead. The Reds added another run in the fifth inning. Cincinnati and Cleveland each finished with three hits.

Franco (1-0) allowed one hit over 3 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and left with the lead. Tejay Antone and Julian Garcia combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings, and Emilio Pagán pitched the ninth for his 11th save. Dane Myers went 1-for-2 for Cincinnati.

Gavin Williams (10-6) took the loss for Cleveland, which fell to 55-54. Cincinnati improved to 50-56.

The game drew an announced crowd of 26,928 and lasted 2 hours, 20 minutes.