The Cleveland Guardians broke a tie in the seventh-inning to rally for a 4-2 win against the host Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday, as rookie Travis Bazzana came through with a big homer to start that rally.
Starting pitcher Parker Messick (7-3) gave up two runs on four hits and three walks, and struck out nine in six innings for the Guardians (40-35), who won for just the third time in their past nine games.
It’s Cleveland’s first win since June 13 when Jose Ramirez, Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez all suffered injuries during a victory over Detroit. All three have since been placed on the injured list.
Starter Shane Drohan went five innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks for the Brewers (45-27), who had won three straight.
Cleveland took its first lead of the game in the seventh inning off reliever Grant Anderson (1-3). Bazzana ripped a fastball into the seats in right field to put the visitors ahead 3-2.
Anderson then got himself into further trouble, walking Daniel Schneemann and Brayan Rocchio in consecutive at-bats. The right-hander got Rhys Hoskins to pop out before he was pulled for left-hander Drew Rom, who walked Kyle Manzardo to load the bases.
Rom’s sweeper Gabriel Arias was a wild pitch, allowing Schneeman to come home to make it 4-2.
Milwaukee threatened in the bottom of the seventh and eighth, loading the bases in each, but couldn’t capitalize and stranded the runners. Guardians pitchers walked nine Milwaukee hitters, while Cleveland received eight walks.
The Brewers opened the scoring in the second inning. Andrew Vaughn led off with a walk and Jake Bauers followed with a line-drive single that deflected off the glove of third baseman Arias into left field. Gary Sanchez then knocked a single up the middle that was deflected by diving second baseman Bazzana into center to drive in Vaughn for a 1-0 lead.
David Fry tied it in the top of the third, sending a sinker just over the wall in left-center field, just out of the reach of left fielder Jackson Chourio.
Cooper Pratt helped put Milwaukee in front 2-1 in the fourth inning when he drove in Sanchez with a sacrifice fly. Sanchez drew a lead-off walk and advanced to third on a Blake Perkins double.
Cleveland tied it 2-2 in the sixth when Manzardo belted a solo shot into the right field seats off reliever Joel Kuhnel.
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score vs. Brewers. Travis Bazzana helps Cleveland avoid sweep
Reporting by Field Level Media, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Field Level Media, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
