Guardian bats stay hot

CLEVELAND (AP) — Angel Martínez had three hits, José Ramírez homered and the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 Tuesday night for their fourth win in five games since the All-Star break.

Kyle Manzardo and Bryan Rocchio each drove in a pair of runs as the Guardians have won 10 of 12 after a 10-game losing streak to get back to .500 at 50-50.

Ramón Laureano went deep in the sixth inning for the Orioles, who have dropped four of five since the break.

Ramirez drove a 94.4 mile fastball near the top of the strike zone into the right-field seats off Baltimore’s Brandon Young (0-5) in the first inning. Seven of Ramirez’s 21 homers have come in the last 12 games.

Cleveland starter Joey Cantillo (2-0) did not allow a hit until the fifth inning, when Ramón Urías led off with a base hit down the left-field line. The left-hander allowed one run and two hits in five innings with four walks and five strikeouts.

Emmanuel Clase got the last three outs for his 22nd save.

Key moment

Rocchio’s sacrifice bunt in the seventh inning brought home Nolan Jones and extended Cleveland’s lead to 6-3. Rocchio is 6 for 17 with seven RBIs on the homestand.

Key stat

Cleveland has 21 homers in its last 12 games, tied with Oakland for the most in the majors since July 7. The Guardians have gone deep in 12 straight games, its longest run since it had a franchise-record, 20-game streak in 2021.

Up next

Orioles RHP Zach Eflin (6-5, 5.95 ERA) goes against Guardians RHP Slade Cecconi (5-4, 3.84 ERA) on Wednesday.

Pirates bring Tigers down to earth

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Spencer Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds and Tommy Pham each had three hits and two RBIs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates hit eight doubles in an 8-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night.

Horwitz hit a two-run double in the second inning to open the scoring. The Pirates, who had lost 11 of their previous 12 games, have taken the first two games of the series from the AL Central leaders. Reynolds had RBI singles in the third and sixth and Pham doubled in a run in the sixth as the Pirates increased their lead to 8-3.

The Tigers have lost eight of their last nine games.

Mitch Keller (4-10) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings to win what could be his final start with the Pirates. The right-hander has been heavily rumored to be traded by the July 31 deadline.

David Bednar, another potential trade target, pitched a scoreless ninth for his 15th save in as many opportunities.

Casey Mize (9-4) was tagged for five runs (four earned) and 10 hits in four innings. Mize was pitching for the first time since making his first career All-Star Game appearance a week earlier.

Jake Rogers hit a three-run home run, his second of the season, in the fifth inning. Jahmai Jones added a two-run shot as a pinch-hitter in the eighth.

Tigers All-Star shortstop Javier Báez returned and was 1 for 4 after missing Monday night’s game with left shoulder soreness.

Key moment

The Tigers put runners on first and second with one out in the ninth before Bednar escaped the jam by striking out Wenceel Pérez and Riley Greene.

Key stat

Horwitz, Pham and Oneil Cruz became the first Pirates trio to have two doubles in a game since 2002.

Up next

The series concludes Wednesday with the Tigers planning to call up RHP Troy Melton from Triple-A Toledo for his major league debut, facing LHP Bailey Falter (6-5, 4.00 ERA).

Big Ten does Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) –Normally, the Big Ten holds its media days inside Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium, and the three-day event certainly could have carried momentum over from the WNBA’s All-Star weekend.

But the venue was booked for the week. So, rather than return to another old home, Chicago, the 18-team conference chose Las Vegas, a city where it does not have an actual team but that is closer to some of its newer programs — USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington.

“I think, obviously, we are a conference that goes coast to coast, so having some presence closer to our West Coast members is not a bad thing,” commissioner Tony Petitti said. “It started with logistics, to be really candid.”

Look good, feel good, play good

Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola made the rounds, donning a customized suit that reeked of success while embracing a Las Vegas vibe.

Wearing a crisp black suit with red piping and playing cards stitched on the inside to match his red-bottom Christian Louboutin shoes, the second-year signal caller said the Cornhuskers, picked to finish eighth by media members, are loaded with confidence heading into camp.

Nebraska started 5-1 last year, before finishing 2-5. One fun fact: Huskers coach Matt Rhule’s teams at Baylor and Temple each improved by four wins from his second to third seasons.

“It all stems from the work that’s been put in, all the preparation that guys have had,” Raiola said. “It’s going to be an exciting season, guys are ready to go, and there’s no stopping us getting to our goals. The consistency of believing in the program, believing in what we believe, and not losing sight of that.

“I think once guys understand that when something works, that you just keep sticking to it and you don’t fade from it, you get a strong (result) at the end of the day.”

Champaign buzz

Illinois was supposed to be a sleeper, perhaps this year’s version of Indiana. But with so much hype coming out of Champaign, and the preseason poll landing Illinois in fourth place, the Illini won’t be sneaking up on anyone.

“I think (Illinois coach) Bret’s (Bielema) built something the way that he wanted to build it,” Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. “And he’s got guys that fit his program, his culture, and now they have an experienced team, which when you’re an experienced team, you’re always dangerous.”

Defensive back Xavier Scott pointed out the Illini’s schedule, having to open the season with seven straight games before a bye, but he and his teammates are looking forward to the challenge.

“We’re just excited to see what we got, we’re just going to continue to do what we do and continue to grind to success,” Scott said. “We want to make this an every-year type of thing where we’re winning games, multiple games, and we’re making more bowl games … and even playoff runs. We’re just trying to make that the culture of Illinois.”