Ben Lively allowed one run and three hits over six innings to fuel the visiting Cleveland Guardians to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.
Lively (9-6), who made his major league debut with the Phillies in 2017, struck out six batters and walked two while snapping a three-start winless streak.
David Fry and Angel Martinez each had an RBI single and Bo Naylor added a run-scoring sacrifice bunt to send Cleveland to its third win in four games.
Philadelphia’s Bryson Stott homered to lead off the fifth inning, cutting the hosts’ deficit to 3-1. Stott added a single in both the seventh and the ninth for the Phillies, who mustered just six hits and committed two errors en route to losing for the seventh time in 10 games.
Prior to the game, Philadelphia acquired outfielder Austin Hays from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for right-hander Seranthony Dominguez and outfielder Cristian Pache. Hays, 29, was the starting center fielder for the American League in the 2023 All-Star Game.
Cleveland got off to a fast start. The game’s second batter, Martinez, reached on an infield single and advanced to second after Philadelphia’s Trea Turner was late to get to the base to finish a rundown. Fry made the Phillies pay for the mental miscue with an RBI single to center field off Cristopher Sanchez (7-6).
The Guardians boosted their lead to 3-0 in the fourth inning. Andres Gimenez reached on a bunt single, stole second and advanced to third on Brayan Rocchio’s single before scoring on Bo Naylor’s bunt toward the first base line. Martinez stepped up two batters later and plated Rocchio with a single to left field.
Philadelphia inched closer as Stott deposited a 1-0 sinker from Lively over the wall in right field. The homer was Stott’s seventh of the season and first since July 9.
Lively rebounded and retired the side in order in the sixth. Cade Smith and Hunter Gaddis bridged the gap to Emmanuel Clase, who retired the side in the ninth to secure his 32nd save of the season.
Sanchez permitted three runs on eight hits in six innings to absorb his second straight loss. He walked two and fanned two.
–Field Level Media
