Angel Martinez launched a pair of two-run home runs Friday night and the visiting Cleveland Guardians held on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-6.
Daniel Schneemann had a solo shot for the Guardians in the opener of a three-game series.
Jesus Sanchez and Kazuma Okamoto homered for the Blue Jays.
The Guardians led 5-2 after one inning.
Schneemann led off with a homer to right against Max Scherzer (1-3) on a 3-2 fastball. Jose Ramirez walked with one out, Rhys Hoskins singled with two out and George Valera poked a two-run double to right. Martinez homered to right on a 1-2 slider.
Nathan Lukes led off the Toronto first against Gavin Williams (4-1) with a double to right but hobbled into second with left hamstring discomfort. He was replaced by pinch runner Davis Schneider, who took third on a flyout and scored on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s ground out. Sanchez homered to center on a 2-2 curveball.
Okamoto homered to right center on a 1-1 fastball in the second.
Hoskins walked in the third and Martinez homered to right on a 3-2 fastball in a determined, 11-pitch at-bat. Joe Mantiply replaced Scherzer, who allowed seven runs, six hits and three walks with no strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.
Williams retired 10 consecutive batters before Schneider walked with two out in the fifth and scored on Ernie Clement’s double to left.
Cleveland added a run in the sixth. Brayan Rocchio singled, stopped at third on Schneeman’s double to left center and slid home to beat the throw home on Chase DeLauter’s fielder’s-choice grounder to first.
Toronto scored twice in the home sixth. Lenyn Sosa singled, Okamoto walked and Andres Gimenez blooped a two-run double down the left-field line.
Williams allowed six runs, seven hits and two walks with four strikeouts in six innings.
Hunter Gaddis and Erik Sabrowski were perfect for the Guardians in the seventh and eighth, respectively.
Okamoto led off the home ninth with a single off the left-field wall against Cade Smith. Gimenez followed with a single. Pinch hitter Eloy Jimenez grounded into a double play. The game ended when Schneider popped out to second to give Smith his sixth save.
–Field Level Media
