04/19/24 09:33:00
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04/19 21:31 CDT Tyler Freeman hits a 2-run homer to help power the Guardians
past the Athletics 10-2
Tyler Freeman hits a 2-run homer to help power the Guardians past the Athletics
10-2
By BRIAN DULIK
Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) --- Tyler Freeman hit a two-run homer and Steven Kwan and Andrs
Gimnez each drove in a pair, sending the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-2 victory
over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.
The Guardians and rookie manager Stephen Vogt are tied with the Yankees for the
best record in the American League at 14-6 -- marking the franchise's best
record through 20 games in 25 years.
"It's just a testament to these guys and how hard they play," said Vogt, who
was hired on Nov. 6 following the retirement of Terry Francona. "That's the way
these guys play, putting pressure on teams. We're going to go hard."
Josh Naylor added a solo homer and Estevan Florial had a career-best three hits
for Cleveland, which has won five of its last six.
Triston McKenzie (2-2) allowed one run in five innings and struck out a
season-high six. The right-hander had just five strikeouts in his first three
starts after missing much of last season with a sprained elbow.
"I'd say it's the best execution I've had," McKenzie said. "Our bats are hot,
so it's easy to lean on that and be able to count on the rest of the guys to
get the job done."
A's third baseman Abraham Toro hit his first career leadoff home run and Brent
Rooker tacked on a homer in the ninth off Scott Barlow. Oakland is 7-5 after
opening the year with seven losses in eight games.
Right-hander Joe Boyle (1-3) allowed seven runs in six innings, five of them
scoring in the fifth. The Cleveland resident walked four and surrendered five
hits in his seventh start in the majors.
"It's hard because most of the time when you learn a lesson, it's to the
detriment of the team," Boyle said. "Freeman put a pretty good swing on a
pretty good pitch, but I thought it came down to the walks. It was hard to stop
them after that."
Freeman's wind-aided homer hooked inside the foul pole in right, scoring Will
Brennan to give Cleveland a 2-1 lead in the second. The Guardians blew the game
open in the fifth, highlighted by Kwan's two-run double and Gimnez's two-run
single.
Oakland began a 10-game trip that includes series with the Yankees and Orioles.
The A's have another stretch of 10 straight road games from May 10-19.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: OF Brent Rooker (ribcage cartilage) was activated from the injured
list after missing nine games, entering as a pinch hitter in the sixth. Manager
Mark Kotsay said he will start Saturday.
Guardians: RHP Gavin Williams (right elbow inflammation), who has been on the
IL since March 25, is slated to throw three innings in a simulated game
Saturday in Goodyear, Arizona.
UP NEXT
A's LHP Alex Wood (0-1, 8.10 ERA) has the third-highest ERA in the majors among
pitchers with at least 15 innings. Wood will face Guardians LHP Logan Allen
(2-0, 5.06 ERA), who defeated Oakland and Seattle in his first two starts, but
has given up nine runs over 9 2/3 innings in his past two outings.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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