Tyler Freeman hits a 2-run homer to help power the Guardians past the Athletics 10-2

Cleveland Guardians’ Will Brennan (17) and Tyler Freeman celebrate Freeman’s two-run home run off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Joe Boyle during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, April 19, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Tyler Freeman hit a two-run homer and Steven Kwan and Andrés Giménez each drove in a pair, sending the Cleveland Guardians to a 10-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday night.

The Guardians and rookie manager Stephen Vogt are tied with the Yankees for the best record in the American League at 14-6 — marking the franchise’s best record through 20 games in 25 years.

Oakland Athletics’ Abraham Toro celebrates a solo home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 19, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

“It’s just a testament to these guys and how hard they play,” said Vogt, who was hired on Nov. 6 following the retirement of Terry Francona. “That’s the way these guys play, putting pressure on teams. We’re going to go hard.”

Cleveland Guardians’ Tyler Freeman hits a two-run home run off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Joe Boyle during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, April 19, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Josh Naylor added a solo homer and Estevan Florial had a career-best three hits for Cleveland, which has won five of its last six.

Triston McKenzie (2-2) allowed one run in five innings and struck out a season-high six. The right-hander had just five strikeouts in his first three starts after missing much of last season with a sprained elbow.

“I’d say it’s the best execution I’ve had,” McKenzie said. “Our bats are hot, so it’s easy to lean on that and be able to count on the rest of the guys to get the job done.”

A’s third baseman Abraham Toro hit his first career leadoff home run and Brent Rooker tacked on a homer in the ninth off Scott Barlow. Oakland is 7-5 after opening the year with seven losses in eight games.

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie delivers during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Right-hander Joe Boyle (1-3) allowed seven runs in six innings, five of them scoring in the fifth. The Cleveland resident walked four and surrendered five hits in his seventh start in the majors.

“It’s hard because most of the time when you learn a lesson, it’s to the detriment of the team,” Boyle said. “Freeman put a pretty good swing on a pretty good pitch, but I thought it came down to the walks. It was hard to stop them after that.”

Freeman’s wind-aided homer hooked inside the foul pole in right, scoring Will Brennan to give Cleveland a 2-1 lead in the second. The Guardians blew the game open in the fifth, highlighted by Kwan’s two-run double and Giménez’s two-run single.

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Joe Boyle delivers during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Oakland began a 10-game trip that includes series with the Yankees and Orioles. The A’s have another stretch of 10 straight road games from May 10-19.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: OF Brent Rooker (ribcage cartilage) was activated from the injured list after missing nine games, entering as a pinch hitter in the sixth. Manager Mark Kotsay said he will start Saturday.

Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan follows through on a two-run double against the Oakland Athletics during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 19, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Guardians: RHP Gavin Williams (right elbow inflammation), who has been on the IL since March 25, is slated to throw three innings in a simulated game Saturday in Goodyear, Arizona.

Cleveland Guardians’ Steven Kwan (38) and Brayan Rocchio celebrate scoring on a single by Andrés Giménez during the fifth inning of the team’s baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

UP NEXT

A’s LHP Alex Wood (0-1, 8.10 ERA) has the third-highest ERA in the majors among pitchers with at least 15 innings. Wood will face Guardians LHP Logan Allen (2-0, 5.06 ERA), who defeated Oakland and Seattle in his first two starts, but has given up nine runs over 9 2/3 innings in his past two outings.

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Joe Boyle delivers during the first inning of the team’s baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Friday, April 19, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

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