The Cleveland Guardians defeated the Colorado Rockies, 4-2, to complete the franchise's first sweep in Denver.
Triston McKenzie earned the win, allowing one run on seven hits with six strikeouts in six innings. This was his eighth consecutive start tossing at least six innings. Emmanuel Clase earned his 14th save of the season (his third this series) and induced a game-ending double play in each win. Chad Kuhl took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits with seven strikeouts in five innings.
The Rockies threatened early after the first two hitters reached second and third base with no outs in the first inning, but the Guardians escaped without allowing a run.
In the second inning, Richie Palacios delivered the first of three runs with a groundout, then Austin Hedges hit an RBI single for the second. Amed Rosario singled in Hedges for the third run just one play after a Rockies error with two outs. The Guardians also scored in the seventh inning when Steven Kwan reached third base on a throwing error, and Amed Rosario drove him in on a sacrifice fly.
The Rockies scored a run in the fifth after Brian Serven tripled and Connor Joe singled him in. In the seventh after the Rockies loaded the bases with no outs, C.J. Cron drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, but this was the only run that the Guardians' bullpen allowed in the inning. Collectively, the Guardians pitching staff stranded ten Rockies baserunners.
Seven Guardians had at least one hit, and Owen Miller went two-for-four with a double. Jose Ramirez also recorded a double, marking his eighth consecutive game with at least one extra-base hit. For the Rockies, Connor Joe and Brian Serven each collected four hits.
The Guardians improve to 32-27 and are on a four-game winning streak. This was the Guardians' fifth straight series win, and over that span, the team is 13-3. Cleveland continues its nine-game road trip tomorrow at 10:10 PM with a three-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, featuring probable pitchers Zach Plesac against Clayton Kershaw.