TORONTO — Tanner Bibee demonstrated resilience on the mound, leading the Cleveland Guardians to a narrow 5-4 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. Pitching for five innings before exiting due to leg cramps, Bibee played a crucial role in silencing Toronto’s lineup. Meanwhile, Gabriel Arias made significant contributions with his bat, securing three hits and driving in two runs.
José Ramírez returned to the field for Cleveland after a brief absence due to a right ankle sprain, sustained two days prior. Despite his goalless performance, going 0 for 4 with a walk, Ramírez’s presence was felt. Bibee, now holding a 3-0 record against Toronto, conceded three runs—two of which were earned—over five hits. He showed signs of discomfort when warming up in the sixth inning, prompting the introduction of a trainer to the field and eventually leading to his substitution.
Reliever Tim Herrin was called in to replace Bibee, and Cade Smith handled the seventh inning. During the eighth, Hunter Gaddis faced a challenge as he allowed runners to reach second and third with one out, but successfully retired Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes to maintain the Guardians’ one-run advantage.
The ninth inning saw Carlos Santana increase Cleveland’s lead with a bases-loaded walk. Toronto responded with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hitting a sacrifice fly, inching closer on the scoreboard. Nevertheless, relief pitcher Emmanuel Clase adeptly secured the win, marking his seventh save of the season by leaving the tying run stranded at third base.
Bowden Francis, the Toronto right-hander, allowed four runs and six hits over 4 1/3 innings, reflecting his ongoing struggle by winning only once across six starts.
A pivotal moment in the game was Daniel Schneemann’s RBI single in the fourth inning, immediately followed by Arias’ two-run single, bolstering Cleveland’s momentum.
Statistics showcased that Toronto’s batters managed three hits with runners in scoring positions against Bibee, exceeding his total hits allowed in such situations throughout his previous six starts combined.
Looking ahead, the Guardians are scheduled to have right-hander Luis Ortiz (2-3, 4.78 ERA) start their next game against the Washington Nationals. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays had yet to announce their starting pitcher for their upcoming matchup at the Angels, where Los Angeles will feature left-hander Tyler Anderson (2-0, 2.67 ERA).