Jose Ramirez clubbed a tiebreaking, two-run homer and the visiting Cleveland Guardians completed a three-game sweep of the first-place Detroit Tigers with a 3-1 win on Thursday afternoon.
Cleveland (81-71) has won seven straight and 12 of its last 13 games to pull within 3 1/2 games of the Tigers (85-68) in the American League Central. They will square off in another three-game series next week, this time in Cleveland.
Jhonkensy Noel supplied a solo home run for the Guardians.
Colt Keith supplied an RBI double for Detroit before he departed in the third inning due to low back tightness. The Tigers have lost six of their last seven games.
The first six innings featured a pitchers’ duel between Detroit ace Tarik Skubal — who departed his previous start in the fourth inning due to left side tightness — and Tanner Bibee.
Skubal gave up one run, seven hits and two walks while striking out nine on 102 pitches. Bibee (11-11) allowed one run on four hits with two walks and struck out eight on 100 pitches.
Hunter Gaddis recorded the last three outs to collect his third save.
Detroit scored first during the second inning but squandered a chance to build a bigger lead. Spencer Torkelson led off with a double and moved to third on Wenceel Perez’s single. Keith’s double drove in Torkelson and moved Perez to third. Perez was thrown out at home on a fielder’s choice and Bibee then set down the next two batters on a strikeout and flyout.
Noel’s fifth homer of the season tied it with one out in the fourth. He drove an 0-2 changeup over the left-center-field wall.
The Guardians took the lead in the seventh against Troy Melton (3-2). Angel Martinez drew a one-out walk before Ramirez blasted a cutter over the right-center-field wall for his 29th homer.
Torkelson led off the bottom of the ninth with a single but Perez bounced into a double play. Andy Ibanez then popped up to end the game.
