Bieber gave the Guardians seven innings only giving up two runs, exactly what the doctor ordered. He also set the tone early with a 1, 2, 3 first inning after the Guardians scored two runs. Boston had multiple opportunities to get a big inning, but Bieber never allowed it to happen.
Ramirez’s grinding first inning at-bat that lasted twelve pitches long seemed to wear down the Red Sox starter Nick Pivetta. Ramirez eventually got a single that led to the second run of the inning. Our best players in Bieber and Ramirez, led the way tonight.
It would not be a big deal for some teams, but for the Guardians to hit two home runs in a game is not the norm. And for the long balls to be hit by Zunino and Brennan, in the bottom half of the lineup, is a good sign for Cleveland.
In Friday night’s game against the Boston Red Sox, Shane Bieber secured his second win of the season for the Cleveland Guardians, allowing only two runs and four hits over seven innings. The 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner struck out four and walked two, breaking a five-start winless streak.
The Guardians improved their record to 13-13 and achieved their first consecutive win since mid-April. All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase closed the game, earning his ninth save in 10 chances and preventing the Red Sox from scoring any runs after Jarren Duran’s leadoff double.
Although the Red Sox hit five doubles during the game, they were unable to convert any of them into runs, going 2 for 13 with runners in scoring position. Nick Pivetta suffered the loss, allowing four runs and five hits in five innings.
Cleveland took an early lead with Josh Naylor’s sacrifice fly and Josh Bell’s RBI double in the first inning, followed by Myles Straw’s run-scoring single in the second. Boston managed to score one run in the bottom of the second with Kiké Hernández’s RBI single and added another run in the fourth with Mike Zunino’s homer. Alex Verdugo hit a run-scoring groundout in the fifth, but it wasn’t enough to close the gap. The game ended with a final score of 5-2 in favor of the Guardians.
In the ninth inning, Will Brennan’s homer off Kutter Crawford sealed the victory for the Guardians.
Game 2 vs. the Red Sox in Boston.
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