CLEVELAND — Steven Kwan and Josh Naylor hit solo homers as Cleveland scored five straight runs in the third and fourth innings, helping the AL Central-leading Guardians beat the AL Central Blue Jays 6-5. Toronto on Sunday.
Cleveland won its fifth straight and is a season-high 23 games over .500. The Guardians and rookie manager Stephen Vogt have the best home record in the majors at 26-9 and extended their division lead to eight games over Minnesota.
Tim Herrin (3-0) was awarded the victory by working a scoreless fourth inning. Emmanuel Clase recorded his American League-leading 24th save, retiring George Springer for the final out after putting the potential go-ahead run on the paths.
Rookie Spencer Horwitz hit a pair of solo homers and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a two-run line for Toronto, which has lost six in a row for the first time since May 2021. The Blue Jays were swept in consecutive series for the first time since 2019 .
The Guardians took a 4-3 lead with three runs in the third inning, one before a 40-minute rain delay and two more later, which came off Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi (4-7).
For the Blue Jays, Dominican Vladimir Guerrero Jr. went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
For the Guardians, the Dominican Ángel Martínez 4-2, José Ramírez 5-2 with two runs scored. Venezuelan Brayan Rocchio 4-1. Puerto Rican Johnathan Rodríguez was 0-2 with an RBI.
