LOCAL WATCH: Manzardo's two-run bloop single sparks Guardians' win
PHIL LONG/Associated Press Kyle Manzardo of the Cleveland Guardians, the former Lake City High star, watches his RBI single off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Mitchell Parker during the first inning Saturday in Cleveland.
From wire services and local reports
CLEVELAND — Ben Lively won his career-best fourth consecutive start and Kyle Manzardo hit a bloop two-run single to lead the Cleveland Guardians over the Washington Nationals 3-2 on Saturday.
Lively (5-2) allowed two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings while striking out four and walking one. The journeyman right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.90 ERA in four starts at home this season.
The Guardians won their ninth straight game at Progressive Field and are an MLB-best 20-6 at home this season and the first two games of this series have sold out. It is Cleveland’s longest home winning streak since 2017.
“Tons of people showing up every night and it gives you a great home field advantage,” said Manzardo, a rookie first baseman who starred at Lake City High and at Washington State.
It was also the 12th win in the last 15 games overall for the Guardians, who lead the AL Central.
Manzardo hit a two-out single to left field with two outs in the first inning to open the scoring against rookie lefty Mitchell Parker (4-3), plating José Ramírez and Josh Naylor.
“No, not really,” Manzardo said with a laugh when asked if he thought the ball would drop between four fielders for a hit. “I hit it out there and somehow it found some grass.”
“Mitchell should have got out of the first inning without giving any runs because that ball should have been caught,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said, referring to Manzardo’s bloop. “Today, we were sloppy. We didn’t play a very good game.”
Manzardo was a second-round draft pick of the Tampa Bay Rays, 63rd overall, in 2021. He was traded to Cleveland last year, and called up from Triple-A Columbus on May 6.
Manzardo went 1 for 4 on Saturday, and is batting .230 (14 for 61) in his major league debut stint, with eight doubles and six RBIs. He’s 6 for his last 23 (.261), and 11 for his last 36 (.306) with seven doubles.
The Guardians are Lively’s fourth team since breaking into the major leagues in 2017. The 32-year-old also spent three seasons pitching in South Korea from 2019-21.
Lively credits his success to keeping things simple.
“I’m just throwing the ball over the plate, and I’ll keep rolling with that,” Lively said. “Stay ready and go with the fastball whenever in doubt.”
Emmanuel Clase, a former Spokane Indian, pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 18th save in 21 chances.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Guardians: LF Steven Kwan got a scheduled day off after being activated from the injured list on Friday and going 3 for 4 with a walk to raise his batting average to .365. He had been out since May 5 with a strained left hamstring; Manzardo was called up the next day to replace him.