Rodríguez hits 1st MLB home run, Cecconi has career night in Guardians' win over Athletics

CLEVELAND (AP) — Johnathan Rodríguez hit his first home run in the majors, Slade Cecconi went a career-long 8 1/3 innings and the Cleveland Guardians beat the Athletics 8-6 on Friday night.

David Fry also went deep and José Ramírez added a pair of extra-base hits to help the Guardians win for the seventh time in eight games following a 10-game losing streak.

Athletics' All-Star Brent Rooker hit his 100th career home run. Shea Langeliers added a solo shot in the seventh inning.

Cecconi (5-4) allowed six runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. The right-hander retired the first 12 Athletics he faced before Rooker led off the fifth with a solo shot to left.

Cecconi looked like he would throw his first complete game, but Nick Kurtz and Rooker opened the ninth inning with triples and Langeliers had an RBI double with one out to chase Cecconi.

Miguel Andujar got the Athletics within two runs on an RBI double off Emmanuel Clase, but the right-hander struck out Max Muncy and Denzel Clarke for his 21st save in 25 opportunities.

Rodríguez came into the game 11 for 81 in two big-league seasons before he drove a fastball from JP Sears (7-8) into the bleachers in left-center field in the second inning.

The Guardians broke it open with four runs in the third, including an RBI hit from Angel Martinez, Fry's two-run homer and Carlos Santana's sacrifice fly to bring in Ramírez.

Cleveland extended its lead to 7-0 in the fourth inning on a two-run double by Brayan Rocchio.

It is the first big-league home victory of Cecconi's career. He was 0-6 with a 7.39 ERA in 17 home games, including 11 starts, in three seasons with Arizona and Cleveland coming into the game.

RHP Luis Severino (2-11, 5.16 ERA) goes for the Athletics while Cleveland counters with LHP Logan Allen (6-7, 4.00 ERA) on Saturday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Cleveland Guardians' David Fry, right, is congratulated by Angel Martínez after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Cleveland Guardians' Johnathan Rodríguez hits an RBI single during the third inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Cleveland. Brayan Rocchio scored on the play. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Athletics starting pitcher JP Sears waits for Cleveland Guardians' David Fry to run the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Slade Cecconi throws during a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Athletics second base Max Muncy, left, tags out Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez attempting to steal second base in the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 18, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)