CLEVELAND โ Gabriel Arias made a crucial impact for the Cleveland Guardians by delivering a decisive two-run double with two outs in the seventh inning, facilitating a hard-fought comeback from a four-run shortfall to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 7-5 on Saturday. This victory marked the end of the Angelsโ impressive eight-game winning streak on the road.
Carlos Santana contributed to the Guardiansโ comeback with a solo home run against Angelsโ reliever Ryan Zeferjahn in the seventh inning, leveling the score at 5-5. Subsequently, Daniel Schneemann singled and successfully stole second base, followed by Bo Naylorโs walk. Arias took advantage of a full-count pitch and smashed a double to center field, driving in two crucial runs.
Clevelandโs starting pitcher, Slade Cecconi, struggled through 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. However, the bullpen provided robust support as Hunter Gaddis, Nic Enright, Logan Allen, and Cade Smith each contributed scoreless innings. Emmanuel Clase closed out the game with a seamless ninth inning, earning his 12th save in 14 opportunities.
The Angels initially seized control in the third inning with home runs from Yoรกn Moncada and Taylor Ward, establishing a 2-0 lead. Jo Adell bolstered this with his seventh home run following a Mike Trout single, giving Angelsโ pitcher Kyle Hendricks a comfortable 4-0 advantage. Despite this, the Guardians found their stride, with Nolan Jones hitting a two-run triple in the fourth. Although Trout added another run for the Angels in the fifth with a double, Josรฉ Ramรญrez quickly responded with a solo home run for Cleveland in the same inning, narrowing the deficit to 5-3.
Hendricks exited the game after allowing a solo homer to Steven Kwan in the sixth, which brought Cleveland closer at 5-4. Kwan finished the game with three hits, missing out on completing the cycle by just a triple. Hendricksโ performance included four runs on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings, while also achieving a season-high six strikeouts.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Santana homered off the second pitch from Zeferjahn, unsettling the reliever after he had successfully retired both Ramรญrez and Kyle Manzardo earlier in the inning.
Looking at the Angels, they have managed to hit home runs in 14 consecutive road games, equaling a franchise record as they aimed to secure their first series victory in Cleveland since 2013.
In the upcoming gameโs pitching matchup, Angelsโ right-hander Jack Von Kochanowicz will take the mound with a record of 3-6 and a 5.07 ERA, while the Guardians will counter with right-hander Gavin Williams, who holds a 4-3 record with a 4.27 ERA.