Gavin Williams fired 11 strikeouts and Patrick Bailey had two hits and an RBI against his former team, sparking the Cleveland Guardians to a 5-2 win over the visiting San Francisco Giants on Thursday afternoon.
Williams (12-7) went 5 2/3 innings, giving up two runs on four hits with three walks in the interleague series finale. It was Cleveland’s first home series victory since June 26-28 against the Seattle Mariners.
Cade Smith walked two in the ninth before retiring Rafael Devers on a fly to center for the final out, earning his 32nd save.
Giants starter Landen Roupp (7-13) allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked four and struck out two, and was charged with his final run when Sam Hentges gave up an RBI single to Steven Kwan.
The Guardians moved within one game of the Minnesota Twins for the final American League wild-card spot. They went 3-3 on their homestand.
Cleveland went up 3-0 in the first on RBI singles from Jose Ramirez and Bailey, and a sacrifice fly by Nathaniel Lowe. One run was unearned because of a fielding error by shortstop Willy Adames.
Adames hit his 200th career homer in the fourth, a two-run shot that scored Devers and sliced the Giants’ deficit to 3-2. Devers’ leadoff single was San Francisco’s first hit off Williams.
Brayan Rocchio singled in Petey Halpin in the eighth off JT Brubaker to close out the scoring.
San Francisco hasn’t won a series on the road since sweeping the Atlanta Braves on June 16-17. They have the fourth-worst record in the majors and are 23 games below .500.
Guardians outfielder Jo Adell returned after a one-game absence with a bruised left kneecap, entering as a pinch hitter before serving as DH. Rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter hasn’t played since Sunday, when he strained his left hamstring against the San Diego Padres.
The Giants placed right-hander Keaton Winn on the 15-day injured list with right elbow neuritis.
–Field Level Media
