LOS ANGELES (AP) — Andrés Giménez drove in the go-ahead run with the bases-loaded in the ninth inning, Oscar Gonzalez hit his first major league homer and scored the winning run, and the Cleveland Guardians rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
The surging Guardians took two of three from the Dodgers and have won 15 of their last 19. They were 7 1/2 games back of AL Central leader Minnesota on May 29 but will begin a three-game series against the Twins on Tuesday only one game behind.
“I don’t think we’re paying attention that much. Obviously, we got a big series coming up in the next few days,” said Guardians starting pitcher Shane Bieber, who struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings. “We’re taking advantage of the opportunities that we create and kind of see where we land.”
Cleveland was missing AL RBI leader José Ramírez for the second straight game due to right thumb discomfort.
Los Angeles native Eli Morgan (3-2) got the win and Emmanuel Clase retired the Dodgers in order in the ninth for his 15th save.
“We’re asking a lot of these young guys. I know they get tired, but they bring it and just to hear their enthusiasm during that game, that got me going,” manager Terry Francona said.
Freddie Freeman homered and Trea Turner extended his hitting streak to 12 games for the Dodgers. Andrew Heaney, making his first start in two months, went five-plus innings.
The Dodgers are 7-9 in June but still lead the NL West by a half-game over San Diego.
Gonzalez drew a walk from Craig Kimbrel (0-3) with one out in the ninth before Josh Naylor hit a high fly ball down the right-field line for a double. Steven Kwan was intentionally walked to load the bases before Gimenez’s hit up the middle with Los Angeles’ infield drawn in.
Ernie Clement, who had two hits,…