José Ramírez breaks Larry Doby’s team record for go-ahead homers as Guardians top Tigers 2-1

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramírez hit a solo homer in the sixth inning, breaking Hall of Famer Larry Doby’s franchise record with his 87th career go-ahead blast and lifting the Cleveland Guardians over the Detroit Tigers 2-1 on Monday night.

Ramírez’s drive off starter Jack Flaherty (0-2) hit the foul pole in right field, snapping a 1-all tie that had stood since the first. The Guardians have the second-best record in the American League at 23-12.

“Ramírez is one of the best hitters in the league and I made one mistake to him — and he took advantage,” Flaherty said. “The one pitch I pulled all the way across the plate was supposed to be in. I hated the location of it.”

Nick Sandlin (3-0) worked 1 1/3 innings for the win and Emmanuel Clase earned his 11th save, moving into a four-way tie for most in the majors. Sandlin, Clase and teammate Scott Barlow share the big league lead with 19 appearances.

“Nick is my pacifier. No matter what situation we’ve put him in, he’s been great,” Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt said. “And we’ve got a pretty good guy to get three outs in the ninth, which isn’t for everybody.”

Flaherty struck out six over six innings, extending his winless streak to 12 starts. The right-hander is 0-5 with a 5.98 ERA since defeating Toronto on Aug. 3, 2023, while pitching for Baltimore.

Riley Greene homered on the first pitch of the game for Detroit, which lost its fourth straight. It was his second leadoff homer this season and the third of his three-year career.

“I’m always attacking the first pitch because that may be the only good one you get,” Greene said. “I just try to hit the ball hard.”

Will Brennan singled in Estevan Florial for Cleveland’s first run. Guardians starter Triston McKenzie worked five innings, allowing one run while striking out six.

Twenty-nine of Ramírez’s 223 homers have come against the Tigers, the most among active players.

“Maybe it’s because I see them more often than the other teams, but I’ve never thought about that,” Ramírez said through an interpreter. “I just come in and compete and try to do my best.”

Kyle Manzardo — the Guardians’ top power-hitting prospect — made his major league debut, striking out in all three plate appearances as the designated hitter.

The 23-year-old Manzardo, acquired from Tampa Bay for pitcher Aaron Civale last July, hit .303 with nine homers and 20 RBIs in 29 games with Triple-A Columbus.

Earlier in the day, Cleveland placed AL batting leader Steven Kwan on the injured list with a left hamstring strain. The two-time Gold Glove left fielder, who is hitting .353, is expected to miss four weeks.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Tigers: OF Wenceel Pérez (illness) returned after missing one game, entering in the sixth. Detroit manager A.J. Hinch had planned on giving the rookie another day off.

Guardians: LHP Sam Hentges (left middle finger inflammation) was activated. He pitched 6 2/3 scoreless innings in a rehab stint with Columbus and Double-A Akron.

UP NEXT

Tigers RHP Kenta Maeda (1-1, 5.02 ERA) faces Guardians LHP Logan Allen (3-2, 5.11) in the second game of the series. Maeda picked up his first victory with Detroit last week against St. Louis.

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Detroit Tigers shortstop Javier Báez, left, tags out Cleveland Guardians' Will Brennan (17) at second base on an attempted steal in the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Tigers' Mark Canha (21) walks back to the dugout after striking out in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cleveland. Guardians' catcher Bo Naylor, left, looks on. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene gestures as he crosses home plate with a home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Triston McKenzie pitches in the second inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Tigers' Jack Flaherty, top left, pitches to Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor, right, in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Kyle Manzardo, left, walks back to the dugout past Detroit Tigers catcher Carson Kelly, right, after striking out in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians second baseman Andrés Giménez, left, jumps out of the way after forcing out Detroit Tigers' Parker Meadows (22) at second in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Detroit Tigers' Riley Greene (31) is congratulated by third base coach Joey Cora (56) as he runs home with a home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' Kyle Manzardo bats in the second inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cleveland. Tigers catcher Carson Kelly is at right. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez gestures as he runs to first base after hitting a home run in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Monday, May 6, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — More heavy rains in Afghanistan have triggered flash floods, raising the death toll to 47 in the country's north following weeks of devastating torrents that had already left hundreds dead and missing, a Taliban spokesman said Sunday.

The new round of heavy rains and floods hit three districts in Faryab province Saturday night, destroying houses and farmlands, said Shamsuddin Mohammadi, the provincial director of information. Earlier reports from Faryab put the death toll at 18 but officials said they were still preliminary figures.

Afghanistan has been witnessing unusually heavy seasonal rains.

In the hard-hit western province of Ghor, 50 people were reported dead from Friday’s floods, according to Abdul Wahid Hamas, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The U.N. food agency said Ghor was the most affected by the floods. Last week, the World Food Program said the exceptionally heavy rains in Afghanistan had killed more than 300 people and destroyed thousands of houses, mostly in the northern province of Baghlan.

Survivors have been left with no home, no land, and no source of livelihood, WFP said, adding that most of Baghlan was inaccessible by trucks.

The latest disaster came on the heels of devastating floods that killed at least 70 people in April. The waters also destroyed about 2,000 homes, three mosques and four schools in western Farah and Herat, and southern Zabul and Kandahar provinces.

An Afghan man collects his belongings from his damaged home after heavy flooding in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in Ghor province killed dozens of people and dozens remain missing, a Taliban official said on Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)

Afghan men collect their belongings from their damaged home after heavy flooding in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in Ghor province killed dozens of people and dozens remain missing, a Taliban official said on Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)

Afghan men collect their belongings from their damaged homes after heavy flooding in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in Ghor province killed dozens of people and dozens remain missing, a Taliban official said on Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)

A damaged house is seen after heavy flooding in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in Ghor province killed dozens of people and many remain missing, a Taliban official said on Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)

An Afghan couple sit near their damaged home after heavy flooding in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in Ghor province dozens of people and dozens remain missing, a Taliban official said on Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)