CLEVELAND - Anchored by a career performance from one of their trusted veterans, the Cleveland Guardians posted one their highest-scoring outings of the season in beating the Boston Red Sox, 10-3, in Thursday's rubber match at Progressive Field.
The Guardians (29-33) posted double-digit runs for the third time this season, and plated six of those runs in a 6th-inning barrage that was kickstarted by the last of José Ramírez's three home runs for the game - a first for the All-Star that allowed him to reach 201 career home runs (ninth on Cleveland's all-time career home run list).
"That was pretty special to watch," Guardians manager Terry Francona stated on Ramírez after the game. "I still get happy for him, because I know what he goes through to play...It's nice to see him have that success."
Ramírez, who finished the game with a season-best five RBIs, hit two of his three shots against Red Sox starter Matt Dermody, who lost his major league debut in allowing four hits and three earned runs in four innings. Corey Kluber, who was teammates with Ramírez in Cleveland from 2013 to 2019, gave up the final home run during his 3.1 innings in relief, in which the Guardians' offense went on the attack.
Starting with Ramírez's leadoff home run in the sixth, the Guardians lineup tallied eight consecutive hits against Kluber, setting the top league mark this season. Every member of the Guardians lineup recorded at least one hit, while Andrés Giménez (two), Will Brennan (two), and Myles Straw (one) each drove in at least one run. Brennan added a solo home run to lead off the 8th inning for Cleveland.
The scoring outbreak aided the Guardians after the Red Sox nearly staged a comeback, cutting the lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth inning after Jarren Duran's 5th-inning RBI single, and Triston Casas's solo home run off Civale in the top of the 6th.
Guardians starter Aaron Civale (2-1) took the win in his second start back from injury, as the right-hander went five and two-thirds innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, and two walks while recording three strikeouts.
"Trusting the guys behind me makes pitching so much easier," said Civale. "When the ball's going in play, you're going to get the best from them every single time."
The Red Sox (31-32) have now lost five of their last six games heading into a road weekend series against the New York Yankees.
The Guardians will begin a weekend series on Friday against the incoming Houston Astros. Logan Allen (3-2, 2.76 ERA) is expected to face Astros right-hander Christian Javier (7-1, 2.84 ERA).
