ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — José Ramírez homered and drove in three runs, leading Shane Bieber and the Guardians to a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays in a matchup of American League playoff contenders.
Ramírez hit a tiebreaking, two-run homer in the fifth. Bieber struck out eight in seven innings as the Guardians took the opener of a three-game series.
Ramírez’s 21st homer, a drive off Jeffrey Springs, was his first as a right-handed hitter since May 24.
Ramírez added an RBI single in the eighth after rookie Steven Kwan’s third single.
Bieber won for the second time in nine starts since June 3 after needing 26 pitches to get through the first, when Ji-Man Choi hit a run-scoring single.
The Rays left the bases loaded when Christian Bethancourt struck out.