Gabriel Arias hit a two-run home run during a six-run second inning that propelled the visiting Cleveland Guardians to an 8-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday.
Arias’ home run, his 10th of the season, gave Cleveland (69-69) a 3-0 lead. The six-run second included an RBI single by Steven Kwan, who later scored on a wild pitch; an obstruction call on Boston catcher Connor Wong that forced in Brayan Rocchio; and an error on left fielder Jarren Duran that allowed Jose Ramirez to score.
The Guardians received a strong pitching performance from Joey Cantillo (4-3), who limited Boston to a run on five hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
Kwan had three hits in the win. C.J. Kayfus and Bo Naylor each added two hits for Cleveland, which ended a three-game losing streak. Romy Gonzalez collected two of Boston’s seven hits.
Brennan Bernardino (4-3) took the loss. Bernardino, one of five pitchers the Red Sox used, exited the mound after recording two outs in the first inning. He gave up a run on one hit and walked one.
Jordan Hicks surrendered four of the six runs Cleveland scored in the second.
The victory prevented Boston (78-63) from completing a three-game sweep. The Red Sox won 6-4 Monday and 11-7 Tuesday.
Kwan gave the Guardians a 1-0 lead when he scored on an infield groundout in the first inning.
After Cleveland extended its lead to 7-0, Boston scored in the fourth. Nick Sogard’s single drove in Rob Refsnyder to make it 7-1.
It was 8-1 after Naylor scored on a Kayfus sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Boston’s Nate Eaton started in right field in place of Roman Anthony, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with an oblique injury. Eaton batted in the leadoff spot and went 1 for 3.
Six of Boston’s seven hits in the game were singles.
–Field Level Media
