Parker Messick struck out six over seven innings for his first win in the majors as the Cleveland Guardians snapped their six-game losing streak by beating the visiting Tampa Bay Rays 3-0 on Tuesday night.
Kyle Manzardo and Brayan Rocchio each had RBI singles and Bo Naylor added a sacrifice fly in the first, putting the Guardians up by three and ending their 28-inning scoreless streak that began Friday against the Texas Rangers.
Messick (1-0) only permitted one runner to reach second base in his second game in the big leagues. The left-hander allowed four hits without a walk in a dominant 98-pitch outing, six days after making his debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks in Phoenix.
He joined Joe Musgrove (2016 Houston Astros) as the only pitchers in major league history to record at least six strikeouts, no more than one walk and no more than one run in their first two big-league appearances.
Hunter Gaddis tossed the eighth and Cade Smith pitched the ninth for his eighth save in 13 opportunities. The combined five-hitter sparked Cleveland’s first win since Aug. 18 at Arizona.
Rays starter Shane Baz (8-11) lost his eighth consecutive decision after working six innings and allowing three runs on three hits. The right-hander, who struck out seven and walked a pair, and has not won since June 26 at Kansas City.
Yandy Diaz went 3-for-4, and Chandler Simpson and Carson Williams had one hit apiece for Tampa Bay, which had its three-game winning streak end.
Cleveland did not have a hit in the final eight frames against Baz, Griffin Jax or Mason Montgomery. Steven Kwan’s leadoff single was the Guardians’ other hit.
The Guardians were outscored 37-10 in their previous six games, all but ending their postseason chances after reaching the 2024 American League Championship Series.
–Field Level Media