Guardians edge Tigers 3‑1 behind Cantillo’s solid start

CLEVELAND (Interstat) — Joey Cantillo pitched five solid innings, Daniel Schneemann delivered a go-ahead two-run home run and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at Progressive Field in front of 32,683 fans.

The win improved Cleveland’s record to 39-33 and extended the Guardians’ winning streak over Detroit to six games dating to May 18. The Tigers fell to 29-42.

Cantillo, who entered the game with a 4-3 record and had allowed 11 earned runs across nine innings in his previous two starts, bounced back with a gritty performance. He allowed one earned run on six hits and struck out four over five innings, throwing 78 pitches. The left-hander retired the side in order in the fourth and fifth innings after escaping early trouble, and his effort earned him his fifth win of the season.

The Tigers struck first in the top of the first inning. Gleyber Torres led off with a double to right field, moved to third on a groundout by Kevin McGonigle and scored on a single to right by Dillon Dingler. Riley Greene followed with a single that advanced Dingler to third, but Jahmai Jones grounded out to end the inning. Detroit held a 1-0 lead after a half-inning in which they collected three hits.

Cleveland answered in the bottom of the second. After David Fry grounded out, Travis Bazzana singled to right. Stuart Fairchild was hit by a pitch, moving Bazzana to second. Austin Hedges then grounded into a fielder’s choice; on the play, Fairchild was thrown out at home by third baseman Hao-Yu Lee. But Hedges’ groundout allowed Bazzana to advance to third, and when Brayan Rocchio struck out with runners at the corners, the inning appeared over. However, during the sequence, Bazzana scored on the fielder’s choice, tying the game 1-1.

The decisive moment came in the bottom of the third. With one out, José Ramírez doubled to right field. Schneemann, who entered the game as a pinch runner in the second inning and later moved to center field and third base, then crushed a 2-1 pitch from Tigers starter Tarik Skubal over the right-center field wall for his fifth home run of the season. The blast scored Ramírez and gave Cleveland a 3-1 lead.

Schneemann finished 1-for-3 with the home run and two RBIs.

Skubal took the loss, falling to 3-3 on the season. The left-hander lasted 4⅔ innings, allowing two earned runs on five hits while striking out four. He left the game after issuing a walk to Bazzana in the fourth inning, followed by a bunt single from Fairchild and a sacrifice bunt by Hedges. Skubal then allowed a fielder’s choice that cut down Bazzana at the plate, and he escaped further damage when Steven Kwan lined out to center.

Detroit threatened in the top of the sixth inning. Dingler led off with a triple to center field, giving the Tigers a runner at third with no outs. But Cantillo and the Guardians bullpen stiffened. Riley Greene struck out swinging. Kerry Carpenter was hit by a pitch. Spencer Torkelson struck out swinging. Colt Keith flied out to center, stranding Dingler at third.

The Tigers put another runner in scoring position in the eighth inning. With two outs, Kerry Carpenter singled to right field and advanced to second on a fielding error by right fielder Stuart Fairchild. But Spencer Torkelson struck out swinging to end the inning.

Cleveland’s bullpen locked down the game after Cantillo departed. Hunter Gaddis pitched a scoreless seventh inning, allowing no hits and striking out one. Colin Holderman followed with a scoreless eighth, allowing one hit and striking out two. Tim Herrin recorded two strikeouts in two-thirds of an inning in the eighth before yielding to Cade Smith, who earned his 23rd save of the season by pitching the final 1⅓ innings. Smith allowed one hit and struck out two.

The Tigers had one last chance in the top of the ninth. James Outman drew a leadoff walk, and after Zach McKinstry struck out, Torres singled to right to put runners at first and second. McGonigle grounded out, advancing both runners. Matt Vierling grounded out to third base to end the game.

Detroit outhit Cleveland 9-8, but the Tigers left seven runners on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.

The Guardians’ bullpen combined for four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six. For Detroit, relievers Kyle Finnegan, Kenley Jansen and Tyler Holton each tossed scoreless frames. Finnegan allowed two hits in 1⅓ innings, Jansen struck out two in a perfect inning, and Holton allowed one hit in one inning.

The game lasted 2 hours, 28 minutes.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Detroit 6, Cleveland 3, and the Tigers entered as pregame favorites with a spread of minus-1.5. Interstat’s ELO system gave Cleveland a 58.30 percent probability to win. The total score of four runs went over the over-under line of eight.