CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – Cal Quantrill continues to win at Progressive Field and catcher Austin Hedges provided the power for him to do it Tuesday night.
Quantrill won his second of the season and improved to 6-0 in his home ballpark by allowing three runs in 6 1/3 innings while Hedges’ three-run home run gave the Guardians a comfortable lead on their way to an 8-3 victory.
Quantrill allowed six hits, struck out five and hit a pair of batters in the victory that pushed the Guardians to 21-24 on the season.
“Every day he pitches you feel like you’ve got a chance,” manager Terry Francona said. “You’re probably going to look up in the sixth or seventh and he’s still going to be pitching with a chance as long as we score a couple of runs. He’s so consistent.”
Cleveland wasted no time jumping on Royals starter Daniel Lynch, scoring three off him in the bottom of the first.
Owen Miller’s groundout to short brought home the first run and two-out singles by Ernie Clement and Andres Gimenez scored the second and third runs of the inning to give the Guardians an early 3-0 advantage.
Kansas City got a run back in the top of the second with a two out rally that included a double off the wall in left by Hunter Dozier followed by an RBI single to center by Kyle Isbel to make it 3-1.
Andrew Benintendi brought the Royals within 3-2 in the top of the third with an RBI single, scoring Nicky Lopez, who led the inning off with a double. Oscar Gonzalez threw Benintendi at the plate following a single to right by MJ Melendez to end the inning and keep Cleveland in front by a run.
“It’s not all that often when a young kid comes up and gives you a huge boost,” Francona said. “A lot of times you hope they play the game right and he’s really given us a lift, some real energy. That throw was a good throw. Hedgie had a great tag. It’s a big time in the game. It was going to be 3-3 and they’re going to have a guy on second. That was a real big play.”
The tag by catcher Austin Hedges helped preserve the lead.
“It didn’t feel like I got him on the first [tag],” Hedges said. “I was hoping he didn’t touch home plate. But I made sure of it the second time.
“[The throw] wasn’t on the money accurate, but it was a laser beam. It came out hot and obviously it was a big situation. He just needed to get it there on time and let me take care of the rest.”
Hedges padded the lead with a three-run homer off the railing in front of the home run porch in the third inning to extend the lead to 6-3 for the Guardians.
“I was trying to put the ball in play,” Hedges said. “Two strikes, guy’s in scoring position, trying to hit a single up the middle to be honest. He got me on a changeup my first at-bat. I was trying to not get beat out in front. Still got a little bit out in front but I was able to put a pretty good swing on it.”
Jose Ramirez did not get a chance to drive in his 52nd run of the season as he was intentionally walked twice in the first two innings following a triple and double from Amed Rosario drawing a round of boos from the 10,519 fans on hand.
Ramirez walked three times and slapped a single to center before popping out in his fifth plate appearance.
“If they want to pitch around him, you hope they pay,” Francona said. “I get it, man. He’s so good, but you want them to pay the price, so I was really glad we scored. Maybe that will slow that down some too.”
Sam Hentges relieved Quantrill in the seventh and allowed an RBI double to Whit Merrifield, providing the final score.
Enyel De Los Santos pitched a scoreless eighth and Brian Shaw closed it out in the ninth.