Bo Naylor came into the game with only two home runs but left the game doubling that total. Bo hit two home runs on the night, one in the bottom of the 3rd, a solo shot, and his second came in the bottom of the 6th a two-run run dinger.
On a night when Terry Francona needed a big start from his healthy veteran, he got exactly that. Aaron Civale pitched his best game of the season going eight strong, and in the top of the 8th, he made a fantastic defensive play with runners on 1st and 3rd and nobody out. Civale got the grounder and looked the runner back while starting a double play, keeping the score at 5-1.
Since the all-star break, Emmanuel Clase has been wonderful out of the bullpen. In four appearances, Clase has given up one hit, earning two saves while giving up zero earned runs.
In a memorable match on Tuesday night, Bo Naylor led the way for the Cleveland Guardians as they secured a resounding 5-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals. Naylor, a 23-year-old rookie catcher, enjoyed his first career two-homer game, driving in three runs to clinch the impressive win.
Naylor’s display of power was evident as he launched a 430-foot solo shot to right field in the third inning and followed it up with a 397-foot blast to right-center in the fifth, bringing home Myles Straw. These were Naylor’s first home runs at Progressive Field, adding to the excitement of the moment. Prior to this game, he had two home runs to his name.
On the other side, Royals pitcher Zack Greinke endured a tough outing, allowing four runs in five innings. His road struggles continued as he suffered his 16th consecutive road loss, a streak that had plagued him since August 13, 2021, when he pitched for Houston at Angels Stadium. In his last 27 away starts, the 39-year-old right-hander remained winless with an ERA of 6.43 over 134 1/3 innings.
However, it was a different story for the Guardians’ starting pitcher, Aaron Civale, who delivered an outstanding performance. The 28-year-old right-hander showcased his skills by pitching a season-high eight innings, conceding just one run on five hits. He struck out five batters and impressively threw 60 strikes out of 93 pitches. The All-Star closer, Emmanuel Clase, then took charge in the ninth inning, working a flawless 1-2-3 to secure the victory.
Cleveland’s offense was further boosted by José Ramírez and Will Brennan, each contributing with RBI singles. The Guardians now hold the second position in the AL Central standings, trailing the Minnesota Twins. This win brought their current homestand record to 3-2.
Kansas City managed to score their lone run in the fifth inning, with Nicky Lopez driving in Michael Massey with a single. Lopez was the standout performer for the Royals, accounting for two of their five hits.
Despite the disappointing outcome, the Royals find themselves with the second-worst record in the majors, standing at 29-74.
For Greinke, the game marked his 534th career start, placing him 35th on the all-time list. Unfortunately, it also equaled his longest overall losing streak in his impressive 20-season career in the big leagues, with seven consecutive losses.
The match concluded in a swift 1 hour and 59 minutes, leaving fans with a memorable night of baseball action.
Tuesday 7/26 1:10 PM EST – Series Finale vs Kansas City Royals
If you're a fan of Cleveland sports and want to stay up-to-date with the latest news, scores, and insights on your favorite teams, signing up for the Cleveland sports newsletter is a no-brainer.
Leave a Reply