CLEVELAND (AP) — Austin Gomber bounced back from a hideous start to get his first win, Jurickson Profar drove in three runs and the Colorado Rockies won for just the second time in 13 games, beating the Cleveland Guardians 6-0 on Monday night.
Gomber (1-4) held the Guardians to three singles — all by Steven Kwan — in five scoreless innings. The left-hander was pounded for nine runs and nine hits in just two innings in a loss to Pittsburgh on April 19.
Profar homered in the first off Cal Quantrill (1-2), who lost for only the second time in 36 career starts at Progressive Field. Quantrill has lost both starts at home in 2023 after going 14-0 over his first 44 appearances in Cleveland.
The Rockies stopped a three-game losing skid to improve to 7-17.
Cleveland managed just four hits and lost for the sixth time in eight games.
Colorado came 1-12 in games in which its opponent scored first. The Rockies played from in front this time as Profar put them up with his third homer, a one-out shot into the right-field seats.
As it turned out, it was all the Rockies would need.
They scored four more to chase Quantrill in the fourth as Ezequiel Tovar hit a two-run single followed by one from Profar, who had been the only MLB player without a hit in at least 15 at-bats with runners in scoring position.
THE NEW GUY
Rockies outfielder Brenton Doyle nearly got his first major league hit, when he appeared to beat out an infield single in the eighth.
However, the Guardians challenged the call and it was overturned, wiping out the hit for Doyle, called up earlier in the day from Triple-A Albuquerque.
“This is a great day,” manager Bud Black said before the game. “He won’t forget it. I told him this is one my favorite days because I get to witness a player’s first day in the big leagues.”
Doyle’s first game had Black reminiscing about his MLB entrance in 1981 for Seattle. Black came on in relief during a game at Boston’s Fenway Park.
“My knees were shaking,” Black said.
TITO’S TROUBLES
Guardians manager Terry Francona took a rare walk to work.
Unable to start his beloved scooter, Francona hiked over from his apartment to Progressive Field, but not before exploring other options.
Francona considered Uber, knowing he couldn’t use one of the electric downtown street scooters after trying to rent one in January.
“I used a credit card like seven times,” he said. “I went to seven different scooters. What am I doing wrong?”
Francona later learned they’re programmed not to work near the ballpark for safety reasons.
Francona’s scooter was stolen in the offseason, but later found by Cleveland police and returned to him.
MANNY BEING MANNY
A fan favorite and sometimes as entertaining off the field as on it, Manny Ramirez is being inducted into the Guardians’ Hall of Fame. He’ll be enshrined on Aug. 19 along with outfielder Dale Mitchell.
Ramirez spent eight seasons with the club before signing with Boston, where he played for Francona, who knows the slugger’s quirks as well as anyone.
“One of the best pure hitters I’ve ever seen, ever,” Francona said. “When you’re in charge of a team, there were times where he could be challenging. But he also had a real lovable side of him and he could really hit.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rockies: CF Yonathan Daza sat out after being hit on the left hand Sunday in Philadelphia. X-rays were negative, but Black wanted to give him another day to recover. … 3B Ryan McMahon was in the initial starting lineup, but became ill and was scratched. Mike Moustakas took his spot and had three hits.
UP NEXT
Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (1-2, 6.16 ERA), who grew up in the Cleveland area, faces rookie RHP Peyton Battenfield (0-1, 1.69), making his third career start.
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