Jose Ramirez’s first homer in nearly a month put Cleveland ahead for good in the fifth, and his RBI single an inning later provided some much-needed insurance as the Guardians beat the visiting Detroit Tigers 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Ramirez’s 24th home run of the season, a solo shot, was his first long ball since June 29, and it broke a 2-2 tie. He then capped a two-run sixth with a line-drive run-scoring single to right that put Cleveland ahead 5-2.
Steven Kwan and Jhonkensy Noel also homered and had two hits apiece while Emmanuel Clase recorded his 30th save of the season as the Guardians, leaders of the American League Central, evened a four-game series at one win apiece by snapping a three-game skid.
Wenceel Perez hit a two-run homer for the Tigers, who couldn’t build on Monday’s 8-2 win over Cleveland. Detroit lost for just the fourth time in 15 games.
Cleveland opened the scoring against Alex Faedo, the Tigers’ second pitcher on a bullpen night, in the third inning. Kwan, 1-for-12 in his previous three games, pulled a pitch well into the right field bleachers for his 10th homer of the year, a solo shot.
The long ball helped the Tigers take the lead an inning later. Mark Canha doubled near the top of the high wall in left field, and Perez followed with a drive into the right-center-field seats for a 2-1 Detroit lead.
Cleveland tied it in its half of the fourth when Noel sent a Faedo fastball onto the left field fan porch. An inning later, Ramirez drove a ball from Joey Wentz (0-2) over the wall in left, nearly putting it in the same spot as Noel’s homer.
In the sixth, Cleveland’s Tyler Freeman walked, went to second on Daniel Schneemann’s single, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Angel Martinez’s sacrifice fly. Ramirez then singled for his 82nd RBI of the season.
However, the Tigers got within one run in the seventh. Gio Urshela walked, went to third on Zach McKinstry’s double to left and scored on Jake Rogers’ sacrifice fly. McKinstry moved up to third on that play and later came home when a would-be pickoff at first base by pitcher Hunter Gaddis hit runner Matt Vierling, who was diving back to the base.
Cleveland’s Cade Smith (5-1) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win. He struck out three.
Guardians starter Xzavion Curry went 4 1/3 innings, giving up two runs and four hits. He walked one and fanned one.
–Field Level Media
