Rosario, Naylor each have three hits and RBI, Guardians beat Red Sox
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CLEVELAND (AP) — Amed Rosario and Josh Naylor each had three hits and an RBI, Josh Bell drove in a run for the sixth consecutive game and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Boston Red Sox 5-2 on Wednesday night.
Rosario singled twice against Kutter Crawford (1-3), then had an RBI double off Justin Garza as the Guardians scored two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to erase a 2-1 deficit.
“Amed’s willingness to get down the line consistently, and he’s fast, is why he gets infield hits,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “He got a couple of those and then he whacked one to left, which was really good.”
Bell drove in a pair to give him eight RBIs during the streak that began May 28. Naylor had two singles and a double for Cleveland, which has split the first two games of the series.
“I think the mindset is always trying to get the ball in play, try to get on base,” Rosario said. “As soon as that keeps happening, we’re on base. That’s what matters.”
Rookie Tanner Bibee (2-1) pitched five innings, allowing one earned, for his first victory at Progressive Field. The right-hander struck out two and gave up four hits in his eighth start since being recalled from Triple-A Columbus.
Emmanuel Clase worked a hitless ninth for his MLB-best 20th save.
“Five innings, I think, is the minimum a starter needs to get through,” Bibee said. “Obviously, I didn’t have my best stuff, but I got through five. It’s definitely good for the confidence.”
Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas, second baseman Enmanuel Valdéz and third baseman Rafael Devers committed errors in the fourth, leading to a pair of unearned runs that gave Cleveland a 3-2 lead.
Devers mishandled Bell’s grounder off Brennan Bernardino, sending José Ramírez home with the go-ahead run. Ramírez had reached when Casas and Valdéz committed miscues before he touched first base.
“Of course, I’m not going to feel well after that play,” said Devers, who had two hits and an RBI. “It’s a little bit frustrating. It’s not a lack of effort. We still put the work in day in and day out.”
Boston tied a season high with three errors, upping its AL-leading total to 43. It has lost four of five and is 10-17 since May 7.
Reliever Crawford made his second start in five days for Boston, pitching three innings with three strikeouts. The right-hander was charged with three runs, one earned.
“We keep talking about it, but we’ve got to get better,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Enough with the talking. We’ve just got to perform.”
Red Sox left-hander Chris Murphy made his big-league debut, working 3 1/3 scoreless innings to finish.
“Honestly, I blacked out a little bit trying to take everything in for a few seconds,” Murphy said. “It was amazing.”
IMPACT PLAYER
Boston’s Masataka Yoshida is the only rookie among the top 10 in the majors in both batting average and on-base percentage. The 29-year-old Japanese outfielder signed a five-year, $90 million contract after spending seven seasons in Nippon Professional Baseball.
“So far, he’s been great and we love him in the dugout,” Cora said. “I’m glad he’s been comfortable enough to communicate more. Last night, he pointed out something to Jarren (Duran) that he saw while he was hitting.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Red Sox: SS Yu Chang (left hamate fracture) is 2 for 7 with a stolen base through two games of his rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester. Cora said Chang will remain with the WooSox until at least the end of the weekend.
Guardians: RHP Cody Morris (right shoulder strain) allowed one run in three innings of a rehab start for Triple-A Columbus against Louisville on Tuesday. Morris has a 1.04 ERA over 8 1/3 innings with the Clippers and Double-A Akron.
UP NEXT
Guardians RHP Aaron Civale (1-1, 2.04 ERA) makes his second start since missing two months with a left oblique strain. Red Sox LHP Matt Dermody was assigned a locker in the clubhouse and is expected to be added to their 40-man roster, but has not officially been named by Cora.
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