Jo Adell homered and singled, backing six solid innings from Tanner Bibee, and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Saturday night in Denver.
Jose Ramirez singled to move into fifth place on the franchise’s hits list with 1,752, according to the team.
Cleveland’s victory, coupled with a loss by Texas on Saturday night, tied the Rangers for the third and final American League wild-card berth. The Guardians have won three in a row, their best run since a four-game win streak to end the first half of the season.
Bibee (5-13) got his first win since July 20 with his 17th quality start of the year. The right-hander allowed two runs on five hits and struck out six, ending his night by fanning Connor Norby and Willi Castro. Cade Smith gave up a leadoff homer to Norby in the ninth before locking down his 33rd save.
Mickey Moniak homered, Jake McCarthy and Troy Johnston had two hits each and rookie right-hander Gabriel Hughes (0-5) remained without a big-league victory in nine appearances (eight starts) for Colorado. The Rockies have lost five in a row and eight straight at home, dating back to Tampa Bay’s three-game sweep three weeks ago.
Hughes needed just 32 pitches to get through three innings, but he faltered in the fourth. He walked Chase DeLauter leading off the frame, Ramirez singled and Adell crushed a 450-foot shot to left field to make it 3-0.
It was Adell’s 20th home run of the season.
Colorado got one back in the bottom of the inning. Bibee retired the first two batters before Castro blooped a single over shortstop Angel Genao. Johnston followed with a double into the left field corner to drive in Castro from first base to make it 3-1.
Moniak’s solo shot in the fifth made it 3-2, but the Guardians answered.
Nick Frasso relieved Hughes to start the sixth and Adell and Nathaniel Lowe led off with singles. Two outs later, Patrick Bailey singled to left, and Adell beat the throw home to make it 4-2.
