Gabriel Moreno finished a fantastic July in style as his RBI single in the eighth inning lifted the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 4-1 victory over the host Cleveland Guardians on Friday.
The Diamondbacks catcher was 1-for-3 and also reached on a hit by pitch as he extended his on-base streak to 27 games and a franchise-record 46 starts. In 25 games during July, he batted .362 (34-for-94) with three home runs and 19 runs driven in.
Arizona did all of its damage in the top of the eighth, wasting what was a masterful performance by Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (4-11). For the first seven innings, the right-hander, 27, limited the Diamondbacks to just two hits.
Bibee got Adrian Del Castillo swinging to start the eighth, but he then walked Tim Tawa. Ryan Waldschmidt (2-for-3) followed with a single to end Bibee’s night. The Progressive Field crowd gave him a standing ovation as he exited, but the bullpen could not preserve the lead.
Erik Sabrowski walked Corbin Carroll to load the bases and gave up a single to Geraldo Perdomo (2-for-4) to tie the game.
Then it was Moreno’s turn. He took a 1-0 offering the other way to right field to bring home Waldschmidt with the go-ahead run. The base hit glanced off Angel Martinez’s glove, allowing the remaining runners to advance a base and make it 3-1.
Bibee limited the Diamondbacks to three hits and a walk over 7 1/3 innings. His two runs were earned, and he struck out three and hit a pair of batters.
Rookie starter Mitch Bratt nearly matched Bibee as the left-hander went five innings for Arizona. He gave up three hits and four walks, and the only Guardians run came in the first.
Jose Ramirez walked with one out and stole second. After another out, Rhys Hoskins’ single put the Guardians ahead.
Four Diamondbacks relievers allowed just a walk to Cleveland over the final four innings. Jonathan Loaisiga (3-3) gave up that free pass in the seventh but earned the win. Brandyn Garcia got his second save in as many games.
Steven Kwan got two of the Guardians’ three hits and worked a walk as the outfielder had a perfect night at the plate.
