CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Guardians have now won eight of 11 series to start the season, with a 4-2 record in rubber matches. It’s the club’s fourth series win at home this season, and 10th win of the year at Progressive Field.
The Guardians finally got to Angels starter Griffin Canning in the sixth inning, as Jose Ramirez snapped an 0-19 skid at the plate by hitting his sixth homer of the year.
The home run came on the 10th pitch of the at-bat, marking the second time Ramirez has homered on the 10th pitch of an at-bat this season.
“When you look at the at-bat with Jose, it didn’t start off very pretty,” manager Stephen Vogt said. “He battled and battled and battled, gained information, and then got a mistake and didn’t miss it. That’s what elite players do.”
Ramirez spiked his bat out of excitement while running to first base. The ball was sent 374 feet to right field and gave Cleveland a 2-1 lead.
“I told [Jose] those guys were attacking every pitch,” Carlos Carrasco said. “He never misses that fastball. After the homer, he came to me and said ‘I did that for you.’”
Cleveland added some insurance runs courtesy of a Josh Naylor two-run blast in the eighth inning. Naylor hit a fastball 410 feet to right-center field. He leads the team with eight homers on the year.
“It was a little rough patch the last few series,” Naylor said. “I had to learn how pitchers were now pitching to me or how teams were executing their game plans against me. I don’t chase results. I just chase a good approach and have a good at-bat for the team.”
The Angels struck first in the second inning. Willie Calhoun led off the inning with a double. He scored on a sac fly by Angels right fielder Jo Adell. Carlos Carrasco got out of the inning after Matt Thaiss was called out at home plate on a double by Cole Tucker.
Carrasco pitched six innings of one-run baseball in his 14th career appearance against the Angels. He walked two batters and recorded three strikeouts on 71 pitches.
“That’s the best stuff he’s had all year,” Vogt said. “His sinker and his slider were electric today. He was pounding the strike zone, getting ahead, and putting guys away. Today he was attacking from pitch number one.”
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Carrasco was credited with his second win of the season. Emmanuel Clase earned his 10th save of the season.
“It’s huge,” reliever Scott Barlow said about Carrasco pitching six innings. “Watching them go about their business for six-seven innings, it’s fun to watch and it’s just fun to build off of too. It’s super important and fun to watch.”
The Guardians have not lost a home series to the Angels since 2013. Cleveland has won 10 of their last 16 and 13 of their last 21 games.
“I couldn’t be more pleased with how our guys are playing,” Vogt said. “We’ve been doing a good job lately of when we do have the lead, extending it. That’s the mark of good teams. It’s been a lot of fun so far and we got a long way to go.”
The Guardians (22-12) welcome the Tigers (18-15) into town next for a three-game series. It’s the first series between Cleveland and Detroit this year. Last season, the Guardians went 4-9 against the Tigers. Triston McKenzie (2-2, 4.34 ERA) will be Cleveland’s starter on Monday.