Guardians collect season-high 18 hits but defense saves the day in win over Royals
The Guardians put up seven runs on a season-high 18 hits, but it was a superb defensive play that saved the day for Cleveland in a 10-6 win over the Kansas City Royals Saturday afternoon at Progressive Field.
With the Guardians (45-44) holding a 7-5 lead, Maikel Garcia roped a double into right-center field. Center fielder Myles Straw fielded it off the wall barehanded and made the throw to Andres Gimenez, who turned and fired a dart to catcher Bo Naylor, who applied the tag on Kansas City's Nicky Lopez.
One run scored, but the lead remained intact thanks to Straw, Gimenez and Naylor.
Guardians rookie starter Gavin Williams (1-1) allowed three earned runs and struck out seven in 5⅔ innings for his first major league win.
Offensively, Amed Rosario had yet another three-hit game, giving him 42 since the beginning of 2021. Brothers Josh and Bo Naylor each drove in two runs. In the eighth, Josh Bell fouled a ball of his leg but remained in the game and hit a two-run double to center field but could only limp to first base and was then replaced by a pinch runner.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians beat Kansas City Royals after rain delay
