Guardians stay hot, beat Orioles 6-3 for 10th win in 12 games

CLEVELAND — Jose Ramirez didn't waste any time. Some of the 22,714 fans in Progressive Field weren't even in their seats Tuesday when he blasted a solo homer in the first inning for a 1-0 Guardians lead. Left-hander Joey Cantillo and the Cleveland bullpen did the rest in a 6-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles. The Guardians (50-50) have now won 10 of their last 12 games and reached the .500 mark for the first time since June 27. They are starting to resemble a real offense and are averaging 6.25 runs per game, second most in the majors, during their surge. Ramirez unloaded on his 21st home run of the season on the first pitch he saw from losing pitcher Brandon Young (0-5). It traveled an estimated 384 feet into the right-field bleachers. It was the seven-time All-Star's seventh home run since July 7 and his 700th career extra-base hit. The Guardians have homered in 12 consecutive games and have gone deep 21 times in their last 12. Cleveland extended its lead to 2-0 in the third on Kyle Manzardo's run-scoring single that drove in Angel Martinez. A defensive gem by second baseman Daniel Schneemann in the fifth snuffed out a rally by the Orioles, who loaded the bases with no outs. He went far to his right to field a grounder by Baltimore's Jacob Stallings and flipped to shortstop Brayan Rocchio, who completed the double play. Orioles third baseman Ramon Urias scored on the play to narrow the O's deficit to 2-1. The Guardians pushed across a run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by Manzardo that scored Bo Naylor. The Cleveland catcher had walked and moved to third on Martinez's double. It was short-lived, as reliever Erik Sabrowski gave up a mammoth blast to Baltimore's Ramon Laureano, his 13th of the season. The homer traveled an estimated 398 feet into the bleachers in left field, which left the score 3-2. Laureano, a former Guardians outfielder, had a home run and four RBIs Monday in a 10-5 loss to Cleveland. The Guardians came right back with a two-run rally in their half of the sixth. Rocchio's run-scoring single plated Daniel Scheemann and the hot-hitting Martinez drove in Rocchio with another single, his third hit of the game. All-Star left fielder Steven Kwan gunned down Urias leading off the seventh. Urias' high drive hit off the wall and Kwan threw him out at second, his AL-leading ninth assist of the season. Baltimore roughed up Guardians reliever Matt Festa in the seventh. He allowed a walk and back-to-back singles, the last by Jackson Holliday to drive in Coby Mayo and make it 5-3. Cleveland manufactured a run in the seventh when Nolan Jones walked, moved to third on Schneemann's single and scored on Rocchio's squeeze bunt. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said Cantillo is coming into his own. He improved to 2-0 on the season with his five-inning stint. He allowed two hits, one earned run and walked four. He struck out five and threw 95 pitches, 57 for strikes. "We're starting to see a lot more consistency," he said. "His changeup and curveball are two of the best pitches in all of (baseball). Those are great pitches. (His) fastball command is much better. His command and strike quality have been really good since he came back (from AAA Columbus). "As a starter, you own a different persona. As a starter, you have four days to plan and prep and get your body ready. We're seeing a much different Joey Cantillo. Trust your stuff." Closer Emmanuel Clase earned his 22nd save with a scoreless ninth for Cleveland. Bob Finnan can be reached at rfinnan30@gmail.com.