David Fry belted a two-run homer and Brayan Rocchio had a pair of doubles and drove in two runs as the Cleveland Guardians held on for an 8-6 victory over the visiting Athletics on Friday night.
Johnathan Rodriguez added a solo shot for his first major league home run as Cleveland won for the seventh time in eight games since July 7. Jose Ramirez doubled and tripled after sitting out the MLB All-Star Game to tend to multiple minor injuries.
Guardians starter Slade Cecconi (5-4) earned his first ever home victory, retiring the first 12 batters en route to an 8 1/3-inning, six-run (all earned) outing. The right-hander gave up solo homers to Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers among eight hits while striking out two.
All-Star Game standout Rooker continued his big week by clearing the wall in left for his 100th career homer, cutting the Athletics’ deficit to 7-1 in the fifth.
Rooker and Langeliers had RBI hits in the ninth to cut Cleveland’s lead to 8-5, and Miguel Andujar greeted closer Emmanuel Clase with a run-scoring double to pull the guests within two.
Clase then struck out Max Muncy and Gio Urshela to end the game, picking up his 21st save.
JP Sears (7-8) remained winless against the Guardians, allowing seven runs (six earned) and six hits in four innings. The left-hander struck out five and walked two, dropping to 0-4 with a 6.67 ERA in six games (five starts) versus Cleveland.
The Athletics have split their last 36 contests immediately after going 1-20 from May 14 to June 4. Friday marked the start if their 10-game trip, and they won’t return to their home field in West Sacramento, Calif., until July 28 against the Seattle Mariners.
Cecconi had been 0-6 with a 7.39 ERA in 17 appearances (11 starts) at home with the Arizona Diamondbacks and Cleveland over the last three seasons. His longest prior outing was seven innings (twice).
Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan, who forced the All-Star swing-off with an RBI single in the ninth at the All-Star Game, was not in the lineup because of a sore right wrist. He received an injection Wednesday and is listed as day to day.
–Field Level Media
