Austin Hedges slammed a two-run homer for the Cleveland Guardians in a 4-2 victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Monday in Anaheim, Calif.
Steven Kwan had two hits and scored a run in the opener of the three-game series for the Guardians, who have won five in a row.
Cleveland left-hander Parker Messick (10-8) went six innings, allowing one run and three hits while striking out four and walking one.
Angels starter George Klassen (2-2) allowed three runs (two earned) and six hits in 5 1/3 innings during his sixth major league start. The rookie right-hander struck out three and walked three.
Josh Lowe had two hits for the Angels, who have lost three of four.
Cleveland jumped on top in the third inning.
Jose Siri made a diving catch in right field to save extra bases on a leadoff drive by Brayan Rocchio, but Kwan and Jose Ramirez followed with line-drive singles. A walk to Jo Adell loaded the bases before Nathaniel Lowe hit a sacrifice fly to deep center, scoring Kwan and ending Klassen’s shutout streak at 12 innings.
Messick retired the first nine batters in order before Zach Neto lined a single up the middle to start the fourth. Mike Trout then reached out and lined a two-strike pitch up the middle. Neto took third on the play and Trout took second on the throw to third.
One out later, Moises Ballesteros dropped a two-strike single into center field, tying the game 1-1.
Angels third baseman Denzer Guzman made a two-base error to start the fifth. Klassen nearly got out of the jam, but Adell came up with two outs and grounded a single up the middle to score Rocchio for a 2-1 lead.
Klassen came back out for the sixth and gave up a leadoff walk before exiting after retiring the next batter.
Blake Weiman got the second out, but Hedges slammed a two-run homer to left-center to extend the lead to 4-1.
The Angels put runners on the corners with one out in the ninth off Guardians closer Cade Smith, and Gustavo Campero delivered a sacrifice fly to cut the gap to 4-2. Smith then induced a flyout from Christian Moore to seal his 34th save.
