Travis Bazzana has hit a two-run homer, Cade Smith pitched out of a jam in the ninth inning and Cleveland held off the Tigers 4-3 in Detroit for their fourth straight victory.
Bazzana, the 23-year-old from Sydney who became the first Australian to be taken with the No.1 pick in the MLB draft two years ago, has helped the Guardians' hot form in the American League continue on Tuesday (Wednesday AEST).
A seventh win in eight games, and 13th from 21 since stepping up after a promising season for the Columbus Clippers, has elevated Cleveland (28-22) to third in the standings behind the Tampa Bay Rays (32-15) and New York Yankees (30-19).
Bazz crushes another one and finally gets a homer for it.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/Xph2pHjmR0
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) May 19, 2026
Trailing 2-1 on the road in Michigan, the Guardians' second baseman hit his second career homer to put them up 3-2 after Kyle Manzardo walked to lead off the fourth.
Riley Greene scored in the bottom of the fourth to tie it 3-3 on a throwing error by catcher Austin Hedges, but Brayan Rocchio drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh inning with a groundout that allowed Steven Kwan to score.
Smith got into trouble in the ninth when Matt Vierling and Kevin McGonigle hit one-out singles to put runners on first and second. Smith though struck out Jahmal Jones looking and Dillon Dingler swinging for his 15th save in 17 opportunities, handing the Tigers (20-29) a fourth straight loss.
Cleveland have won in Detroit on consecutive days and play two more games in as many days at Comerica Park.
Bazzana became the 39th Aussie to play in the majors when he debuted on April 28 in a 3-2 home loss against Tampa.
His first home run came in an 8-4 win over the Minnesota Twins on May 8.
He also starred for Australia at the World Baseball Classic in March, scoring a solo home run against world No.2 Chinese Taipei in Tokyo.
With AP.
