MINUS BETTS, DODGERS DROP SERIES TO GUARDIANS
Andres Gimenez drove in the go-ahead run with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, Oscar Gonzalez hit his first major league homer and scored the winning run, and the Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 5-3 victory over the host Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
The surging Guardians took two of three from the Dodgers and have won 15 of their last 19. They were 71⁄2 games back of AL Central leader Minnesota on May 29 but will begin a three-game series against the Twins on Tuesday only one game behind.
“I don’t think we’re paying attention that much. Obviously, we got a big series coming up in the next few days,” said Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber, who struck out nine in 61⁄3 innings. “We’re taking advantage of the opportunities that we create and kind of see where we land.”
Cleveland was missing AL RBI leader Jose Ramirez for the second straight game due to right thumb discomfort.
Los Angeles native Eli Morgan (3-2) got the win and Emmanuel Clase retired the Dodgers in order in the ninth for his 15th save.
“We’re asking a lot of these young guys. I know they get tired, but they bring it and just to hear their enthusiasm during that game, that got me going,” manager Terry Francona said.
As for the Dodgers,
Mookie Betts is hoping that his latest stint of the injured list only lasts a couple weeks.
The Dodgers star outfielder is sidelined with a cracked right rib. Betts was injured during the first inning of Wednesday night’s game against the Angels when he collided with Cody Bellinger in the outfield on a fly ball. Betts played the rest of that game but was scratched from the lineup on Friday and Saturday.
Freddie Freeman homered and Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Dodgers.
The Dodgers are 7-9 in June but still lead the NL West by a half-game over the Padres.
Gonzalez drew a walk from Craig Kimbrel (0-3) with one out in the ninth before Josh Naylor hit a high f ly ball down the right-field line for a double. Steven Kwan was intentionally walked to load the bases before Gimenez’s hit up the middle with Los Angeles’ infield drawn in.
Ernie Clement, who had two hits, added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to score Naylor.
Off the field, Guardians OF/DH Franmil Reyes (right hamstring tightness) has completed a rehab stint with Triple-A Columbus and is expected to join the team in Minnesota for the upcoming series.
Notable
The Pirates plan to promote 6-foot-7 shortstop Oneil Cruz from Triple-A Indianapolis before their game today against the Cubs.
The 23-year-old Cruz ranks among the game’s most exciting prospects and made his major league debut last September. Pittsburgh sent him to Triple-A to begin this season, infuriating many fans who perceived the demotion as an effort to delay Cruz’s free agency down the road. Cruz struggled at the start of the year with Indianapolis but has been better of late, hitting .233 with nine homers, 11 stolen bases and a .761 OPS overall.
The Reds put RHP Alexis Diaz (right biceps tendinitis) on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Thursday. LHP Nick Lodolo (back) struck out six in two innings during Saturday’s rehab at Triple-A Louisville. The Reds have been without Lodolo since late April.