Triston McKenzie struck out seven over 6 1/3 scoreless innings and Franmil Reyes drove in two runs as the visiting Cleveland Guardians completed a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics with a 7-3 win on Sunday.
McKenzie (1-2) allowed four hits and walked one for Cleveland, which has won three straight following a seven-game losing streak. McKenzie threw a season-high 96 pitches.
Oakland starter James Kaprielian (0-1) struggled in his season debut, yielding four runs on three hits over two-plus innings. He walked four and struck out two.
The Athletics trailed 7-0 before scoring three runs in the ninth against Anthony Gose. Oakland has lost six of its past eight games.
Cleveland concluded a 3-7 road trip by jumping to a 6-0 lead after four innings. Luke Maile began the scoring with a one-out RBI double off Kaprielian in the second.
Kaprielian, just off the injured list after recovering from a shoulder injury, loaded the bases in the third by walking the first three batters on 13 pitches.
Jake Lemoine replaced Kaprielian and allowed a two-run single to Reyes and Andres Gimenez’s run-scoring double.
Reyes, who snapped a 0-for-26 skid with his single to right field, later capped the rally by scoring from third on a wild pitch.
The Guardians extended their lead when Steven Kwan scored on Owen Miller’s sixth-inning sacrifice fly.
Gimenez had two hits for Cleveland, which recorded its first series sweep of the Athletics in Oakland since April 10-12, 2000.
Bryan Shaw replaced McKenzie with two runners on and one out in the seventh, and he retired Kevin Smith and Elvis Andrus to end the inning.
Oakland was outscored 10-4 in the final two games of the series while going a combined 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Chad Pinder had two hits and a ninth-inning sacrifice fly on Sunday for the Athletics, who also got ninth-inning runs on RBI doubles from Christian Bethancourt and Smith.
–Field Level Media
After reaching base in all five plate appearances in a series-opening defeat on Tuesday, Cleveland left fielder Steven Kwan had his fingerprints all over the Guardians’ 3-2, 10-inning victory over…
The Washington Nationals will look to move above .500 for the first time in nearly three years when they face the Texas Rangers in the rubber match of a three-game…
Shoddy defense cost the Chicago Cubs a chance to win on Tuesday against the New York Mets. It didn’t take the Chicago defense long to redeem itself. The visiting Cubs…
Nationals face Rangers with eye on first winning mark since ’21
Cubs, after dramatic win, chase series victory over Mets
Riding strong pitching staff, Red Sox eye sweep of Giants
Yankees need more offense in series finale vs. Orioles