Cleveland Guardians Defeat Kansas City Royals 10-6, Gavin Williams Earns First MLB Win
CLEVELAND -- In a thrilling game, Gavin Williams, a top prospect, showcased his talent by striking out seven batters in 5 2/3 innings to claim his first win in the majors. The Cleveland Guardians' brothers, Bo and Josh Naylor, played a pivotal role in the victory with two RBI each, leading their team to a 10-6 triumph over the Kansas City Royals on Saturday.
Williams (1-1), making his fourth start, allowed three runs on eight hits and issued one walk. The right-hander, who was drafted by Cleveland in the first round from East Carolina in 2019, made his highly anticipated debut on June 21.
Both Naylors contributed significantly to the Guardians' offensive power with two singles and a double each, as the team amassed a season-high 18 hits. Their strong performance propelled the Guardians to overtake the Minnesota Twins and claim first place in the AL Central with a record of 45-44. By achieving this victory, they climbed above the .500 mark for the first time since April 19.
Reflecting on his debut win, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound Williams expressed his excitement, stating, "Even though I just got here, being in first place, that's where everyone wants to be. I feel like we're going to keep doing well."
The Guardians also received outstanding contributions from Josh Bell, who went 3 for 3 with two walks and two RBI, and Amed Rosario, who recorded three hits. Josh Naylor showcased his consistency with 32 RBI over the last 32 games, while Bo Naylor broke out of a recent slump with an impressive three-hit performance.
Although the Royals mounted a comeback, scoring six runs between the fifth and eighth innings to narrow the margin to 7-6, they fell short of tying the game in the eighth. Nicky Lopez was tagged out just inches away from home plate on Maikel Garcia's RBI double to center field. The Guardians executed a flawless relay play, with Myles Straw throwing to cutoff man Andrés Giménez, who made a perfectly placed throw to Josh Naylor at home.
Guardians manager Terry Francona hailed it as "the best relay I've ever seen," while Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro acknowledged the exceptional play, stating, "They beat us on that play. It was a great relay."
In the series finale, the Guardians' Shane Bieber (5-5, 3.66 ERA) was set to face the Royals' Yarbrough (1-4, 6.15 ERA). Bieber has been a consistent presence for Cleveland, starting in all 18 games this season, which is an impressive feat among the team's pitchers.