If the Cleveland Guardians are going to make a playoff run this season, they can thank their starting pitchers.

Slade Cecconi pitched into the ninth inning on Friday night. Gavin Williams struck out 11 Athletics in Sunday’s 8-2 victory.

David Fry was another hero for the Guardians, driving in four runs. He started the offensive barrage with an RBI single in the first inning.

Austin Hedges singled to score Will Wilson in the second. It was Hedges’ 11th hit of the season, and he’s batting .121.

CLEAR THE BASES

The Guardians loaded the bases against Jeffrey Springs (8-7) in the fourth.

Fry hit a three-run double down the left field line to score Hedges, Wilson, and Brayan Rocchio.

With a 5-0 lead, Williams (6-4, 3.54 ERA) cruised through seven innings. He gave up just four hits and one run, which came on a wild pitch in the fifth.

THAT’S NOT ALL

Angel Martinez hit his ninth homer in the seventh inning to increase the lead to 6-1.

Sacramento slugger Nick Kurtz hit a sacrifice fly in the eighth, but Cleveland responded with two more runs in the bottom of the inning.

Rocchio’s sacrifice fly scored Jones, and Martinez drove in Daniel Schneemann with a single.

Cade Smith and Jakob Junis pitched the final two innings for the Guardians.

INCOMING BIRDS

The Baltimore Orioles are in town for a four-game series. Tonight’s game will start at 6:40 p.m.

Tanner Bibee (5-9) will take the ball for Cleveland against the Orioles’ Tomoyuki Sugano (7-5).