Australia's baseball star Travis Bazzana has continued his impressive form in the Major Leagues to help his Cleveland Guardians beat Detroit 3-1.
The 23-year-old from Sydney has been showcasing his all-round game lately and on Saturday (Sunday AEST) stole a base in the second inning, forcing an error which then allowed him to run home and level the scores at 1-1.
Bazzana, the former No.1 overall draft pick, had three at bats against the Tigers in Cleveland and registered one run, one hit and a base-on-balls in the win.
It follows several strong performances of late for Bazzana, who also scored against the Yankees on Thursday.
Star pitcher Tarik Skubal was tagged for a two-run homer by Cleveland's Daniel Schneemann in the two-time reigning Cy Young winner's return from elbow surgery.
Skubal (3-3) threw 80 pitches in his first start since April 29. The left-hander had a loose body removed from his elbow during an innovative surgical procedure on May 6, allowing Skubal to come back earlier than expected.
He gave up Schneemann's shot in the third inning and four other hits before being pulled after 4 2/3 innings. Although he wasn't as sharp as usual, Skubal's presence alone was a huge lift for the Tigers, who have been decimated by injuries all season.
Joey Cantillo (5-3) allowed one run in five innings and the Guardians won despite losing outfielders Chase DeLauter and Angel Martinez to injuries in the first two innings
Cleveland's bullpen combined for four shutout innings with Cade Smith getting the last four outs for his MLB-leading 23rd save. The Tigers stranded runners at second and third to end the game.
DeLauter suffered a bruised right rib cage when he collided with the outfield wall in the first. Martinez fouled Skubal's first pitch off his left foot. The team said X-rays were negative and Martinez has a bruise.
Schneemann, who replaced DeLauter, followed a double by José Ramírez in the third by connecting on a 0-2 pitch for his fifth homer, a 417-foot drive that made it 3-1.
The Tigers quickly gave Skubal a 1-0 lead. Gleyber Torres doubled on Cantillo's first pitch, moved up on a groundout and scored on Dillon Dingler's single.
The Guardians got the run back in the second when Tigers catcher Dingler threw into left on a double steal.
Bazzana's fellow Australian, Curtis Mead, also had three at bats on Saturday for one walk, no hits and zero RBIs, as his Washington Nationals still beat Seattle 8-3.
