Josh Bell powers Diamondbacks in sweep of Guardians

Field Level Media|published: Wed 7th August, 19:27 2024

Aug 7, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Bell (36) rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Josh Bell homered in back-to-back innings and the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks won 5-3 on Wednesday to complete a doubleheader and three-game series sweep of the Cleveland Guardians, who have lost a season-high five straight.

Bell, who began last season with Cleveland before being dealt to Miami, connected for an opposite-field solo homer against Carlos Carrasco (3-10) in the second. An inning later, he went deep with a man on for his ninth homer in 13 games.

The surging Diamondbacks, who won 7-3 in Wednesday's Game 1, became the first team this season to sweep a series from the AL Central-leading Guardians.

Randal Grichuk homered for one of his two hits, Adrian Del Castillo had an RBI double in his first career at-bat and Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0) allowed three runs over 5 2/3 innings in his season debut as Arizona won for the 12th time in 14 games.

Justin Martinez (two saves) struck out Lane Thomas with the bags loaded to end the game for the Diamondbacks, who are 24-9 since June 29.

Jose Ramirez hit his 30th homer and David Fry also went deep for Cleveland, which has allowed 35 runs during this five-game rut that's all come at home. Carrasco yielded four runs in 4 1/3 innings for the Guardians, who are 16-21 since June 26.

Arizona opened the scoring in the second when Bell clubbed a Carrasco pitch onto the left-field fan porch. Eugenio Suarez then roped a one-out double and scored on Del Castillo's hit off the 19-foot-high wall in left-center field for a 2-0 Diamondbacks lead.

Cleveland answered in the bottom of the second when Fry drove a Rodriguez pitch over that same wall.

However, Bell padded the Diamondbacks' advantage in the third. With a man on, Bell sent the ball into the right-field seats for his 18th homer.

The Guardians got a run back in the fourth via Angel Martinez's sacrifice fly. Rodriguez came out for the sixth and promptly served up a ball to Ramirez that landed well into the left-field seats to make it 4-3.

However, the Diamondbacks again responded when Grichuk also found the fan porch.

--Field Level Media