CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez hit a two-run double with two out in the ninth inning, lifting the Cleveland Guardians to a 4-3 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.
Ramírez’s clutch hit off Ryan Helsley (3-4) rolled to the wall in right-center, scoring Myles Straw and Steven Kwan, who had drawn one-out walks.
The swing touched off a wild celebration for the Guardians, who have struggled to get clutch hits throughout the first two months of the season. Cleveland's players stormed out of the dugout to playfully pound Ramírez, who threw his helmet high into the air between second and third base.
Xzavion Curry (1-0) pitched three scoreless innings for his first major league win.
Paul Goldschmidt hit one of three solo homers for St. Louis in the fifth inning. Goldschmidt, Arenado and Alec Burleson each had two hits.
The Cardinals trailed 1-0 before breaking out in the fifth against Hunter Gaddis.
Burleson led off with a shot to right for his fourth homer. After Tommy Edman flied out, Andrew Knizner hit a drive to left for his fourth homer. Lars Nootbaar then grounded out before Goldschmidt's 10th homer capped the rally.
Nolan Gorman’s single chased Gaddis, who allowed five hits in 4 2/3 innings.
St. Louis left-hander Jordan Montgomery was charged with two runs and seven hits in five-plus innings. The Cardinals have dropped his last eight starts.
Cardinals reliever Génesis Cabrera worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth by getting pinch-hitter Will Brennan to bounce into a double play.
The Guardians took two of three in the series. Cleveland hung on for a 4-3 win Friday. St. Louis won 2-1 on Saturday despite having only two hits.
St. Louis is 15-7 since May 7 to climb back into the NL Central race. The Cardinals were in last place for 24 straight days.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: C/DH Willson Contreras was out of the lineup in a scheduled day off following Saturday night’s game. He’s in an 0-for-25 slump.
Guardians: RHP Aaron Civale (strained oblique) allowed four runs, struck out seven and threw 88 pitches over 4 2/3 innings in his third rehab start for Triple-A Columbus. RHP Triston McKenzie (shoulder strain) will make his third rehab start for Columbus on Tuesday. The Guardians have yet to decide when the two will rejoin Cleveland’s rotation.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (2-0, 6.33 ERA) will start the opening game of a home series against Kansas City on Monday. He got the win over Cincinnati on Tuesday, allowing five runs in 5 2/3 innings.
Guardians: LHP Logan Allen (1-2, 3.31 ERA) will start in the series opener Monday at Baltimore. The rookie allowed four runs over six innings in a loss to the White Sox on Tuesday.
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