Bazzana, Bailey and Halpin help power the Guardians to a 9-1 win over the Rockies

DENVER (AP) — Patrick Bailey and Petey Halpin homered, rookie Travis Bazzana tied a career high with four hits, and the Cleveland Guardians used production from the bottom of their batting order to beat the Colorado Rockies 9-1 on Friday night.

Bazzana, Bailey and Halpin, batting in the seventh through ninth spots, combined to drive in seven of the nine runs to help Cleveland gain ground in the AL wild-card race. The Guardians moved past Toronto and remained a game behind Texas for the final playoff berth.

Tim Herrin (2-4) tossed 1 1/3 innings of relief for Cleveland and Chase DeLauter returned to the lineup after missing three games with a hamstring injury.

Colorado third baseman Kyle Karros singled and walked in his return from the seven-day concussion injury list, but shortstop Ezequiel Tovar left the game in the fourth inning due to illness. Catcher Brett Sullivan got the final two outs in the ninth inning in his seventh relief appearance this season.

Cleveland built a 3-1 lead against Tanner Gordon (0-4) on Halpin’s solo home run in the third and Bazzana’s two-run single in the fourth. The Guardians took advantage in the fifth when Steven Kwan walked and Rockies center fielder Cole Carrigg lost DeLauter’s fly in the lights for a single.

Kwan scored on Jo Adell’s single to make it 4-1, and they added another run in the sixth on Kwan’s groundout.

Colorado loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, chasing starter Joey Cantillo. But, Herrin came on to retire Willi Castro on a groundout to second to keep it a three-run game.

The Guardians put the game out of reach on Baily’s three-run homer in the seventh inning.

Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (4-13, 4.01) makes his second career start against the Rockies and first since his major league debut on April 26, 2023. Colorado RHP rookie Gabriel Hughes (0-4, 6.69) seeks his first big-league victory.

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