CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Guardians have now won five straight, tying their longest winning streak of the season. They’ve also been on the winning side of eight of their last nine games.
Cleveland improved their MLB-best record to 17-6 with the win. The record matches the 1999 and 1966 clubs for the best record in franchise history through 23 games.
“I think right now it’s just a number,” Will Brennan said. “It’s early. It’s April. We know that our preparation is going to continue to lead to putting us in positions to win ballgames. With our pitching and the way our offense is, it’s going to be tough to beat us.”
Most of the action in the series opener took place in the seventh inning. Wilyer Abreu broke the scoreless tie by hitting a ball 378 feet to the right field seats.
The Guardians responded and took the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. Brennan led off the frame with a double and came around to score on a Tyler Freeman single. Freeman scored after back-to-back walks and a sac fly was hit off the bat of Brayan Rocchio.
Red Sox starter Tanner Houck was taken out after facing three batters in the seventh inning. Freeman’s RBI single snapped Houck’s 15-inning scoreless streak against the Guardians.
“His splitter wasn’t as sharp tonight,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “It looked like he was having trouble being consistent with it. He was still unbelievable. He’s one of the elite pitchers. We’re very fortunate that we were able to stay in the game and get to him finally.”
Cleveland added two insurance runs in the eighth inning. Jose Ramirez greeted Cam Booser out of the Red Sox bullpen with a solo home run to right field. The ball traveled 360 feet and was Ramirez’s fourth of the season.
“That’s what he does,” Vogt said. “Jose hits the ball hard. It was a huge hit at the time. I can’t say enough about what he brings to the lineup. I was in awe of him for years, and now I like being in awe of him.”
Freeman scored for the second time in as many innings in the eighth. He reached base on a walk and scored from first base on an RBI double by Estevan Florial.
“We’re a team that’s not going to quit,” Freeman said. “Whoever’s out there playing we’re just gonna keep grinding more importantly trying to scrap to win games. We’re loose and we’re winning games.”
Ben Lively pitched 6.1 innings allowing only one run on five hits in his Progressive Field debut. He didn’t walk any batters while recording seven strikeouts, including four consecutive strikeouts across the third and fourth innings.
“I mix up my speeds,” Lively said. “I’ve been the same pitcher my whole life. I don’t overpower you, but I’m going to throw it over the plate and put movement on it. I’ll act like I throw 100 [mph] but I don’t.”
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Lively broke a stretch of 15 straight games where Guardians starters failed to log more than six innings pitched.
“Outstanding,” Vogt said. “Attacking the zone, going right after them, and making pitch after pitch. Ben getting that deep into the game efficiently was huge for all of us.”
Scott Barlow was credited with the win, his first as a Cleveland Guardian. Emmanuel Clase recorded his seventh save of the year. He struck out the side in order for the first time in his career in the ninth inning.
The win secures a season-series victory over Boston for the first time since 2018. The Guardians are 4-1 against the Red Sox this season with two more games left between the two squads this year.
Game two of the three-game series between the Guardians (17-6) and Red Sox (13-11) takes place on Wednesday night. Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 3.44 ERA) will get the start for Cleveland. Carrasco faced the Red Sox in his last start when he allowed two runs in 5.2 innings pitched.