Josh Naylor has four hits, 3 RBIs, leads Guardians to 12-3 win over Diamondbacks

By: David Brandt, The Associated Press Posted: 6:46 PM CDT Sunday, Jun. 18, 2023 Last Modified: 7:30 PM CDT Sunday, Jun. 18, 2023

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PHOENIX (AP) — Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona has a simple system that he uses to determine if Josh Naylor is hitting the baseball well.

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PHOENIX (AP) — Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona has a simple system that he uses to determine if Josh Naylor is hitting the baseball well.

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This article was published 18/06/2023 (866 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

PHOENIX (AP) — Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona has a simple system that he uses to determine if Josh Naylor is hitting the baseball well.

If the slugger’s helmet stays on while swinging, there’s probably some good things happening. If it’s falling off, he’s probably chasing some bad pitches.

Naylor’s helmet stayed in place on Sunday, and the hits were flowing.

Home plate umpire Pat Hoberg has the field to himself as a lighting issue causes an interruption in play in the first inning of a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Cleveland Guardians, Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

The Guardians’ cleanup hitter had four hits and three RBIs, and the Guardians avoided a three-game sweep by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 12-3.

“When you see him swinging and his helmet’s not coming off, he’s going to be just fine,” Francona said. “There’s so much to like about his swing.”

The Guardians cruised through the series finale, scoring two runs in the first, three in the second and six more in the fourth for an 11-1 lead. Right-hander Tanner Bibee (3-2) gave up three runs and seven hits in five innings, striking out six and walking three.

Cleveland pounded out 16 hits. The lineup accomplished much of its damage off D-backs starter Zach Davies, who has struggled since his return from the injured list in late May.

Cleveland scored two in the first after leadoff batter Steven Kwan reached on an error by shortstop Nick Ahmed. José Ramírez drove Kwan home with a triple and Josh Naylor’s double scored Ramírez.

Kwan was in the middle of the action again in the second with a two-run triple that scored Will Brennan and Myles Straw. Amed Rosario’s sacrifice fly pushed the Guardians’ advantage to 5-0.

Kwan scored four times and drove in three runs. Straw, Brennan, Rosario and Tyler Freeman all had two hits.

“Momentum is really important,” Kwan said. “A bunch of guys got a bunch of hits. Our pitchers did what they needed to. Going into the off day with our heads up high is really important.”

Arizona’s Christian Walker hit a solo homer — his second long ball in two days — to cut the margin to 5-1. But the Guardians responded with six more runs in the fourth, punctuated by a two-run triple from Andrés Giménez.

Naylor’s younger brother, Bo, made his first start behind the plate since being called up from Triple-A. He was 0 for 4 with a run scored.

Davies (1-3) gave up nine runs, including eight earned, over 3 2/3 innings. He surrendered nine hits, walked one and struck out two. The right-hander has a 7.11 ERA over seven starts this season.

“Rough day — I’m glad it’s over,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “I was very pleased with how we’ve been playing baseball up until today. But from the first pitch of the game until the last one, we just didn’t have a rhythm. I don’t think Zach got into a good rhythm, there were some missed fastballs and he never got anything moving in the right direction.”

LIGHTS OUT

Cleveland Guardians' Myles Straw, left, laughs with Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Josh Rojas who pitched during the ninth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 18, 2023, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)

The D-backs say a downtown power surge in Phoenix led to a 15-minute delay in the first inning after some of the lights went out at Chase Field.

The game was played in the afternoon, but temperatures in the 100s in central Arizona meant the 25-year-old stadium’s retractable roof was closed.

“Our facility staff reacted quickly to power backup systems and reset all functions,” the D-backs said in a statement. “After a 15-minute delay, systems were restored to adequate levels for play to continue.”

MAKING MOVES

Left-handed reliever Anthony Misiewicz was claimed off waivers by the Tigers. The D-backs designated him for assignment on June 12.

UP NEXT

Guardians: Return home for a three-game series against Oakland starting Tuesday. The Guardians will use RHP Aaron Civale (2-2, 2.67 ERA) in the first game. The Athletics will use RHP Luis Medina (1-6, 7.55 ERA).

Diamondbacks: Travel to Milwaukee for a three-game series starting Monday. The D-backs will send RHP Merrill Kelly (8-3, 3.04 ERA) to the mound for the first game. The Brewers will counter with RHP Corbin Burnes (5-4, 3.44 ERA).

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