THE Cleveland Guardians completed a three-game sweep of the Texas Rangers and clinched the American League Central Division title with a 10-4 victory Sunday afternoon (Monday in Manila) in Arlington, Texas.
The Guardians’ seventh straight win, combined with the Detroit Tigers’ 4-1 defeat of the Chicago White Sox, gave the franchise its first division crown since 2018. Steven Kwan capped a three-hit game with his first career grand slam, and the rookie drove in five runs.
Cleveland collected 10 hits and capitalized on three errors by Texas. Cleveland right-hander Aaron Civale (3-6) gave up two runs on three hits with seven strikeouts in five innings.
In the third inning, the Guardians broke through for four runs thanks in part to a throwing error by Rangers rookie third baseman Josh Jung. Tyler Freeman singled and with one out, Myles Straw singled. Kwan’s RBI single opened the scoring. Amed Rosario reached on a fielder’s choice, and two runs scored on Jung’s error. Oscar Gonzalez added a run-scoring single for a 4-0 lead.
In other games, it was the Royals 13, Mariners 12; Astros 6, Orioles 3 (11 innings); Braves 8, Phillies 7 (11 innings); Blue Jays 7, Rays 1; Cubs 8, Pirates 3; Reds 2, Brewers 1; Nationals 6, Marlins 1; Tigers 4, White Sox 1; Angels 10, Twins 3; Padres 13, Rockies 6; Giants 3, Diamondbacks 2; Mets 13, Athletics 4; and Dodgers 4, Cardinals 1.
Royals 13, Mariners 12
Michael Massey had a two-run homer and a two-run single in an 11-run sixth inning that propelled Kansas City to a victory over visiting Seattle in the rubber match of their three-game series.
The Royals sent 14 batters to the plate in the sixth, scoring at least 11 runs in an inning for the sixth time in team history. The score was 11-2 when Massey homered to drive in the first two runs of the Royals’ sixth inning. He added his two-run single later in the inning to move the Royals within 11-10. Hunter Dozier capped the Royals’ scoring with an RBI single to make it 13-11 following Ryan O’Hearn’s two-run double.
The Mariners had four walks and two hit batters in the fifth inning and appeared to blow the game open by scoring eight runs to take a 9-2 lead. Mariners starter Luis Castillo was unable to take advantage of the 11-2 lead. He allowed five runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking three. Matt Brash (3-5) was responsible for four runs in the sixth inning and took the loss. — Field Level Media
