José Ramírez hit a home run for the second game in a row, helping the Cleveland Guardians win their eighth consecutive game by defeating the Los Angeles Angels 4-3 on Saturday night.
This winning streak is the longest for Cleveland since their record-setting 22-game run in 2017. It’s also the first time since 2001 that they’ve won eight straight games in May.
Despite this impressive streak, the Guardians haven’t managed to build a significant lead in the AL Central. They are still only 1 1/2 games ahead of the Kansas City Royals, who also have an eight-game winning streak.
Ramírez’s home run in the fourth inning, a two-run shot off José Soriano, increased the Guardians’ lead to 4-0. It was his third home run of the weekend series and his sixth in the last eight games. With 15 home runs, he’s tied for fourth in the majors, and he leads MLB with 51 RBIs.
“José, I mean, he just does what he does,” said Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt. “That’s a pitcher that’s tough to get to, and for us to put up four right there that was the game.”
Pitcher Reid Bibee, who is from Mission Viejo, located 20 miles from Angel Stadium, earned his first win since April 21. He allowed three runs on six hits and struck out six in six innings.
In the ninth inning, Emmanuel Clase secured his 16th save by retiring the Angels’ three hitters after allowing a leadoff base hit.
Despite Taylor Ward’s three-run homer for the Angels in the fourth inning, they fell to a 6-18 record at home. Soriano, who struck out eight in six innings, gave up four runs on four hits.
“We had all kinds of opportunities to cash in, we just didn’t get the hit,” said Angels manager Ron Washington.
