LOS ANGELES ( Associated Press) – Cleveland manager Terry Francona couldn’t hold back his smile after beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in 10 innings on Friday night.
The Guardians had only one hit after the fourth inning and what could have been two potentially-fatal errors, but they also got clutch pitching from their bullpen and went a couple of heads on the defense for their season-best fifth straight win. .
“That was one of the fun games,” said Francona. “It’s nice when you win, but I mean we went to people in situations where we didn’t. I’m really excited for those.”
After avoiding Anthony Fart’s jam in the ninth inning, Richie Palacios hit a tiebreaking sacrificial fly in the 10th to score Owen Miller, who started the innings as automatic runner.
Zach Plesack made another good start for Cleveland, allowing one run in six innings, but bullpen from Sam Hentges, Trevor Steffen, Goose and Aniel de los Santos closed the Dodgers on the final four frames.
“They’re doing it in this environment is something they’ll probably be able to build out for the rest of their careers. I think it’s a great deal, especially with this lineup. So it was a great night.” said the catcher, Luke Mel.
Andrés Jiménez had two hits and Jose Ramirez hit safely in his ninth straight game, helping Cleveland win despite having just one hit after the fourth inning.
Cody Bellinger homeridden and Tree Turner hit three to extend his hitting streak to 10 games for the Dodgers.
Bellinger beat the innings to take the lead in ninth place and took a single off Trevor Stephens, then finished second. After the dismissal of Chris Taylor, Bellinger dropped to third when Oscar Gonzalez dropped a routine fly ball from Hanser Alberto.
Bellinger was unable to score after a fart dismissed Gavin Lux and was caught in a fly ball by González Tree Turner.
The Dodgers were on 13 for 13 with the runners in the scoring position and 11 runners stranded.
“I thought we had great batting in the first four innings, there was a lot of baseball and nothing to show for it. And after that we couldn’t string anything together,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
In the 10th, Miller moved to third on an infield single from Jiménez, then scored on Palacios’ fly in the center of Evan Phillips (1–3).
Goss (3-0) dismissed Freddie Freeman at the bottom of the innings, then Aniel de los Santos got a groundout from Will Smith, walked Max Muncie and dismissed Justin Turner for the first save.
Los Angeles is 0-5 in extra innings while Cleveland has improved to 5-2.
Ramirez had a hit in the fourth to extend his hitting streak, but his extra-base hit streak ended in game eight. Ramirez, who is second in the Majors with 62 RBIs, has scored 16 for 37 in his last nine matches.
Bellinger, who came into the game batting only .152 in June, took two hits. He connected on a fastball from Placesack and halved it to the bleachers in right-centre to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead in the second.
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw allowed one run and five hits in five innings, making his second start after returning from a back injury. The left-handed batsman threw 56 of 81 pitches to strike and left a walk with four strikeouts.
Kershaw faced some early traffic when the Guardians were first runner up and had two runs in the first, but he dismissed Josh Naylor to end it.
Ramirez took the lead with an infield single to fourth and the latter scored on Naylor’s sacrificial fly.
Plesack played six innings and conceded one run for five hits. The right-handed batsman dismissed one and issued two walks. This is the seventh time in 12 matches that Plesak has played at least six innings.
Placeack was aided by three good defensive plays. Jimenez blocked line drives in the first and second innings to prevent a base hit, and Mel covered the bag at third base in a shift when Muncie tried to take an extra base after Bellinger rode, When Jimenez fouled a grounder in the sixth.
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The Guardian: OF/DH Franmil Reyes (right hamstring tightness) went 1 for 3 during a rehab appearance for Triple-A Columbus on Friday. He is 5 for 11 with home runs and three RBIs in three games.
Dodgers: CF Mookie Bates was a late scratch from the lineup due to a right rib injury. Bates collided with Bellinger in the outfield on a fly ball during the first inning of Wednesday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels. … LHP Andrew Heaney (shoulder) threw a side session before Friday’s game and is on track to come out of IL and begin the series finale on Sunday.
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Guardian: RHP Cal Quantrill (4-3, 3.38 ERA) have won their last three matches. His career record in Interleague games is 2–0.
Dodgers: LHP Julio Ureas (3-6, 2.80 ERA) is 0-3 in his last four outings with five home runs allowed. His interleague career mark is 2-1.
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