CLEVELAND — — Brandon Belt scored the go-ahead run on a bases-loaded grounder by Wilmer Flores within the eighth inning, sending the San Francisco Giants to a 4-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday night time.

With one out, Flores hit a pointy grounder that second baseman Ernie Clement stopped earlier than forcing out Brandon Crawford at second. However shortstop Amed Rosario needed to delay his throw to first when first baseman Owen Miller was late attending to the bag, permitting Flores to achieve and prolong the inning.

“I assumed that was a double play when it was hit,” Belt admitted. “However give Flo credit score. If he isn’t giving all of it he’s acquired getting down the road, we don’t rating that run there.”

Austin Slater subsequently scored on a wild pitch by Nick Sandlin (0-1) to increase San Francisco’s result in two. Belt went 2 for five with a pair of RBI for the Giants, who’ve gained 4 in a row and are atop the NL West.

“All of Brandon’s at-bats are top quality and you may sense confidence in his swings,” San Francisco supervisor Gabe Kapler mentioned. “Clearly, he’s off to an awesome begin and we’re not within the place we’re with out him.”

Dominic Leone (1-0) labored a scoreless seventh for the win and Jake McGee earned his first save of the season. The Giants are 2-0 on an 11-game street journey that continues in opposition to the Mets, Nationals and Brewers.

Myles Straw had a leadoff triple and scored within the first, then doubled residence the tying run within the fifth for the Guardians. Miller went 2 for two, elevating his main league-leading batting common to .560. He has an extra-base hit in six straight video games.

“Owen is impacting the ball,” Cleveland supervisor Terry Francona mentioned. “From day one in every of spring coaching, man, he’s hitting balls and he’s turning on balls that we didn’t see him do final 12 months.”

José Ramírez drove in Straw with a sacrifice fly for his league-high fifteenth RBI. Straw introduced residence Miller in opposition to Giants starter Anthony DeSclafani to even the sport at 2.

Belt greeted Logan Allen with a two-run single within the fifth, placing San Francisco in entrance 2-1. Thairo Estrada and Steven Duggar got here residence on the two-out liner after getting the one two hits off Guardians starter Cal Quantrill.

“I assumed we managed the sport properly, given the truth that I didn’t actually assume I used to be throwing the ball very properly,” mentioned Quantrill, who struck out two and walked three in 4 2/3 innings. “I didn’t actually give myself an opportunity to go deep.”

DeSclafani gave up two runs in 4 2/3 innings, hanging out 4. He entered with a 2.33 profession ERA in April, the seventh-lowest amongst all pitchers with 15 begins since 1920.

“I nonetheless felt good, however Gabe thought it was finest to go along with the recent bullpen we have now,” DeSclafani mentioned. “It was the proper transfer as a result of we gained.”

Cleveland’s Josh Naylor had his first two hits since breaking his proper leg in a grotesque outfield collision on June 27, 2021. Guardians rookie Steven Kwan went 0 for 4, dropping his common to .385.

IMPRESSED

Guardians LHP Anthony Gose struck out two and walked one in a three-batter outing within the sequence opener. The 31-year-old reliever was an outfielder with Toronto and Detroit from 2012-16, then returned to the majors final 12 months on the mound. “Having a participant improvement background, I believe it’s tremendous cool that (Cleveland) recognized one thing else in him,” Kapler mentioned. “In fact, having an electrical arm helps.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Giants: 3B Evan Longoria (proper index finger surgical procedure) is scheduled to start hitting drills within the subsequent a number of days. Longoria underwent a process to restore a torn ligament on March 29 and is fielding balls together with his glove hand, however has but to renew throwing.

Guardians: RHP James Karinchak (proper again pressure), who has been on the 10-day injured record since April 4, will throw off a mound after finishing one ultimate lengthy toss session. “He needs another actually, actually lengthy toss — his phrases,” Francona mentioned.

UP NEXT

Giants: LHP Alex Wooden (0-0, 4.15 ERA) is 5 1/3 innings shy of reaching 1,000 in his 10-year profession, which incorporates stints with the Dodgers, Braves and Reds.

Guardians: RHP Aaron Civale (0-0, 5.40) labored 3 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs in his preliminary begin this season, a no-decision on April 11 at Kansas Metropolis.

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