The All-Star break didn’t stop the Cleveland Guardians’ momentum, as the team is slowly approaching the .500 mark.

After winning six of seven on the road before the break, Cleveland (47-49) beat the Sacramento Athletics 8-6 last night at Progressive Field.

The game was a laugher most of the way, until the A’s added some drama at the finish.

TOUCHDOWN, GUARDIANS

Cleveland built a 7-0 lead in the first four innings off starter JP Sears (7-8). Johnathan Rodriguez hit his first big-league home run, a solo shot in the second inning.

Angel Martinez hit an RBI single in the third to increase the lead to 2-0. David Fry doubled the Cleveland lead with a two-run homer, his fourth of the season.

Carlos Santana added a sacrifice fly to score Jose Ramirez. Left fielder Tyler Soderstom didn’t try to throw Ramirez out because he thought the inning was over.

Brayan Rocchio smashed a two-run double in the fourth to increase the Guardians’ lead to 7-0.

THESE A’S CAN HIT

Slade Cecconi had a perfect game at this point, but the A’s quickly made it imperfect on a solo homer by Brent Rooker.

Nolan Jones got the run back for Cleveland in the bottom of the fifth with a single to score Ramirez.

The powerful, young A’s lineup didn’t give up. Nick Kurtz hit an RBI single in the sixth, and Shea Langeliers added a solo homer in the seventh.

IRON MAN SLADE

Cecconi pitched into the eighth inning in his previous start, and this time, he made it to the ninth. But a complete game was not in the cards.

Rooker hit an RBI triple, and Langeliers added a run-scoring double. Emmanuel Clase arrived to pick up the final two outs.

Miguel Andujar doubled to score Langeliers and cut the lead to 8-6. Clase then struck out Max Muncy (version 2.0) and former Cleveland Indian Gio Urshela to end the game.

Cecconi improved his record to 5-4. Clase recorded his 21st save and lowered his ERA to 2.86.

The series will continue tonight at 7:10, with Cleveland’s Logan Allen (6-7) pitching against Luis Severino (2-11) for Sacramento.