CLEVELAND, Ohio — José Ramírez’s early home run wasn’t enough as the Guardians fell to the Detroit Tigers, 2-1, on Friday, extending their losing streak to eight games before a sold-out July 4 crowd at Progressive Field.
The division-leading Tigers overcame Cleveland’s early advantage with solo home runs from Wenceel Perez and Zach McKinstry, dropping manager Stephen Vogt’s club 13½ games behind Detroit in the American League Central Division.
Ramírez, recently named an All-Star starter, broke out of a career-high tying 21 at-bat hitless streak with his 14th homer of the season in the first inning.
The blast came off Tigers starter Reese Olson, who was making his first appearance since May 17 after recovering from right ring finger inflammation. The home run marked Ramírez’s 942nd career run scored, tying Charlie Jamieson for fourth on the club’s all-time runs list.
Cleveland’s offense struggled to capitalize on opportunities throughout the game. A potential scoring chance in the second inning was erased when Bo Naylor was thrown out at home plate by Perez on an Angel Martínez base hit. Despite replays appearing to show Naylor’s hand reach the back of the plate before the tag, the out call stood upon review.
Perez made the Guardians pay the following inning with a solo homer off Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi, tying the game at 1-1. McKinstry then put Detroit ahead for good with another solo shot in the fourth inning.
The Guardians threatened in the fifth when Steven Kwan reached on an infield hit and advanced to third on a Ramírez single, but Tigers reliever Tyler Holton got Carlos Santana to fly out to center, ending the threat. Cleveland’s final rally came in the eighth when they loaded the bases, but Daniel Schneemann grounded out on the first pitch he saw from Will Vest.
Kwan doubled with two out in the ninth, but was stranded when Kyle Manzardo grounded back to Vest on the mound for the final out.
Adding to Cleveland’s woes, center fielder Lane Thomas exited the game after the fifth inning with mild plantar fasciitis symptoms in his right foot. Thomas had previously missed two weeks in late May with a similar issue and was sidelined for more than a month in April with a wrist bruise.
The loss snapped Cleveland’s two-game winning streak on Independence Day, dropping their all-time July 4 record to 93-81-2. The current eight-game skid is the team’s longest since they lost nine straight from June 30 to July 7, 2021.
Holton earned his fourth win for Detroit, while Cecconi took his fourth loss and Vest secured his 14th save.
Next
The series continues Saturday with a 7:15 p.m. start at Progressive Field. Left-hander Logan Allen (5-6, 4.27) will start for Cleveland. Righty Casey Mize (8-2, 2.86) is set to take the mound for Detroit. The game will air on FOX, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM, WARF 1350 AM (Spanish) and the Guardians Radio Network.
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