MLB roundup: Guardians edge Phillies 3-1 in matchup of teams with top records
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Ben Lively struck out six in six innings to lead the Cleveland Guardians to a 3-1 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night in a matchup of teams with the best records in baseball.
The Phillies returned home for the first time since the MLB All-Star break, yet failed to snap out of their recent offensive malaise.
MLB-leading Philadelphia (64-39) lost for the fifth time in seven games since the break and the seventh time in the last 10 games overall. The Phillies lost two of three in Pittsburgh and Minnesota after the break.
The Phillies played more like lovable losers against the Guardians, who entered Friday sharing the best record in the American League with Baltimore and leading the AL Central. Philadelphia committed two errors, botched a rundown, failed to scoop playable one-hoppers in the dirt and chirped at umpires most of the game.