## Guardians Rally to Beat Red Sox 4-1, Extend Win Streak to Five
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-1 on Tuesday night, extending their win streak to five games and solidifying their status as the team with the best record in baseball.
Despite a strong six-inning performance from Red Sox starter Tanner Houck, the Guardians rallied late in the game to secure the victory.
The game remained scoreless until the seventh inning, when Boston finally broke through with a solo home run by Wilyer Abreu. However, the Guardians responded in the same inning with back-to-back RBI singles from Tyler Freeman and Bryan Rocchio to take a 2-1 lead. Jose Ramirez added an insurance run with a solo home run in the eighth inning.
The Guardians bullpen was solid, with Scott Barlow getting the win and Emmanuel Clase picking up his seventh save. Cleveland starter Ben Lively allowed one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings, striking out seven.
The Guardians will face the Red Sox again on Wednesday at 6:10 p.m. EST with Carlos Carrasco on the mound for Cleveland.
Game Recap
Tanner Houck tried to do it to the Guardians again. He almost made it before the Guardians dropped the hammer. Houck threw six scoreless innings before the Guardians rallied late to beat Boston, 4-1.
The Guards, with the best record in baseball, have won five straight games for the second time this season. Tyler Freeman and Bryan Rocchio gave the Guardians a 2-1 lead in the seventh. Freeman had an RBI single and Rocchio a sacrifice fly. Ramirez added insurance with a leadoff homer in eighth.
Last week at Fenway Park, Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu stole two hits from Ramirez, including a homer. Tuesday night Ramirez hit it where Abreu would have needed a jet pack to catch it. Ben Lively and Houck revisited their April 17 matchup from Fenway Park almost to a tee. The April 17 game went to Houck and the Red Sox, 2-0. Houck threw a three-hitter, striking out nine and retiring the last 13 hitters to come to the plate. Lively in his first start for the Guardians allowed two runs on three hits in five innings. He struck out seven and walked one.
Tuesday night’s game, played in chilly and damp conditions, was scoreless through six. Lively held Boston to three hits, while Houck limited the Guardians to three as well.
The game turned in the seventh. Lively, just the second Cleveland starter to pitch six innings since April 3, retired Tyler O’Neill to start the seventh, but Abreu homered into the right field seats to give Boston a 1-0 lead. When Rob Refsynder singled, Lively was done for the night. Scott Barlow relieved. He ended the inning quickly by catching Refsnyder trying to steal second and striking out Emmanuel Valdez.
Lively allowed one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out seven, the same total he had in his first meeting with the Red Sox and Houck.
The Guardians ended 15 scoreless innings of frustration against Houck (3-4, 1.65) in the seventh to take a 2-1 lead. Will Brennan opened the inning with a double to center. Freeman brought him home with a single to center to tie the score at 1. When Houck walked Estevan Florial, lefty Brennan Bernardino relieved. The Guardians countered with pinch-hitter David Fry, who walked to load the bases after Freeman stole second. Rocchio’s sacrifice fly scored Freeman for the lead.
The Guardians stretched their lead to 4-1 in the eighth on Florial’s double. Ramirez’s homer was his fourth of the season and came after a mini two-day vacation. Ramirez had the day off on Sunday paired with Monday’s off day.
Houck allowed two runs on five hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked three as he leaned heavily on his slider and splitter. Lively threw the kitchen sink at the Red Sox with sinkers, fastballs, sliders, curveballs and changeups. He threw 89 pitches, 61 for strikes.
Barlow (1-2), thanks to the Guardians’ late rally, was credited with the win. Emmanuel Clase pitched the ninth for his seventh save in nine chances.
The Guardians are 4-1 against Boston this season. RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 3.44) will face the Red Sox at 6:10 p.m. Wednesday. The Red Sox have not named a starter.
Bally Sports Great Lakes, WTAM, WMMS, WARF and the Guardians radio network will carry the game.
