CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Guardians delivered an impressive performance against the Philadelphia Phillies, securing a decisive 6-0 win on Friday night with home runs from José Ramírez, Kyle Manzardo, and Angel Martínez. The Guardians, beginning a six-game stint at home, saw strong contributions from four pitchers who combined efforts to maintain the shutout.
Gavin Williams, the starting pitcher for Cleveland, played a central role in the outcome, pitching for five innings. He tallied eight strikeouts and allowed four walks, recording his third win of the season to bring his record to 3-2.
Martínez played a pivotal role in extending the lead, connecting for a two-run home run in the fifth inning off Phillies’ starter Aaron Nola, who now stands at 1-6 for the season. This brought the Guardians’ lead to 3-0, creating a solid buffer for the team. Manzardo and Ramírez further strengthened the lead with solo home runs during the fourth and seventh innings, respectively.
Daniel Schneemann and Carlos Santana added to the scoring by each driving in runs. This victory marks the Guardians’ third consecutive win and enhances their recent record, winning five of their last six matchups.
Unfortunately for the Phillies, their chance to extend a three-game winning streak was spoiled, as they struggled with runners in scoring positions, ending the game 0 for 8 in these scenarios.
A key moment came when José Ramírez capitalized on a hanging curveball from Joe Ross, sending it over the right-field fence for his sixth home run of the season, further cementing Cleveland’s commanding 6-0 lead. Interestingly, just a pitch prior, he narrowly missed another homer, sending a foul ball along the right line.
The notable statistic of the night highlights Manzardo’s performance this season; following a 2022 campaign with five homers and 15 RBIs over 53 games, he currently leads the team with nine home runs and 22 RBIs.
Looking forward, the Phillies are set to send LHP Ranger Suárez to the mound for his second start of the season, aiming to build on his 17.18 ERA. Meanwhile, Cleveland will count on RHP Tanner Bibee, who carries a 3-2 record and a 4.26 ERA, to continue their winning momentum.