Williams outpitches Yamamoto, and Ramírez hits 1st homer of season as Guardians top Dodgers 4-1

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Gavin Williams struck out 10 in seven scoreless innings, outpitching World Series MVP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and José Ramírez hit his first home run of the season to lead the Cleveland Guardians past the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 on Wednesday.

Gabriel Arias also went deep for the Guardians, who took two of three games in the series from the two-time defending champions.

Williams (1-1) walked three and allowed only two hits, both singles by Andy Pages. Freddie Freeman homered off Cade Smith with two outs in the ninth, spoiling Cleveland's shutout bid.

Williams overpowered the Dodgers from the outset and faced just one batter more than the minimum through five innings. He ran into his only trouble in the sixth when Pages led off with a single and Alex Freeland worked a walk to bring Shohei Ohtani to the plate as the potential go-ahead run.

The 6-foot-6 right-hander induced a grounder from Ohtani on the first pitch for a 4-6-3 double play and got Kyle Tucker to fly out to end the inning.

Williams completed his night with a perfect seventh, punctuated by striking out Will Smith swinging on an elevated 96 mph fastball.

Ohtani also struck out against left-hander Erik Sabrowski with runners at second and third to end the eighth. Ohtani went 0 for 3 with a walk at the plate, extending his on-base streak to a career-best 37 games since last August.

Yamamoto (1-1) pitched six innings, allowing four hits and two runs. He walked one and struck out two.

The loss dampened a historic night for the Dodgers, who became the first team to start a Japanese-born pitcher in three consecutive games. Roki Sasaki took the ball in the series opener and Ohtani won the middle game.

LHP Joey Cantillo (0-0) starts Cleveland’s home opener Friday against the Chicago Cubs.

Dodgers RHP Emmet Sheehan (0-0) starts the opener of a three-series at Washington on Friday.

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

Members of the Cleveland Guardians warm up as NASA'S Artemis ll rocket is seen prior to launch from Launch Complex 39B at Kennedy Space Center on the big screen above them prior to a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Cleveland Guardians' Gabriel Arias, right, is congratulated by Brayan Rocchio after hitting a solo home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani walks away after striking out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

DENVER (AP) — Marcus Pettersson scored with 5:39 remaining, Brock Boeser had a hat trick and the last-place Vancouver Canucks blew a four-goal lead before beating the NHL-leading Colorado Avalanche 8-6 on Wednesday night.

The Canucks, who entered the game 58 points behind the Avalanche, scored in all sorts of ways, including 29 seconds into the game, short-handed, on the power play and into an empty net to snap a six-game slide.

They led 6-2 in the second only to see Colorado tie it up with 6:02 left. Just 23 seconds later, Pettersson knocked in his first goal since November. Boeser sealed it by lining the puck down the ice and into an empty net.

Teddy Blueger scored twice, while Max Sasson and Jake DeBrusk also added goals to spoil a night in which Nathan MacKinnon became the first player this season to reach 50 goals. Vancouver took advantage of the Avalanche juggling their defensive pairings with Cale Makar sidelined by an upper-body injury.

Kevin Lankinen made 24 saves.

Sam Malinski scored twice, while Gabriel Landeskog, Parker Kelly and Brent Burns also scored. MacKinnon notched his second 50-goal campaign of his career with his score early in the first.

Colorado goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood was pulled with 4:39 left in the second after allowing six goals on 19 shots. Scott Wedgewood stopped five shots in relief.

The Avalanche were rolling after a 9-2 win over Calgary on Monday.

Before fans had a chance to settle into their seats, the Canucks were up 1-0. Sasson's goal 29 seconds into the game was the fastest by the Canucks since Oct. 22, 2024 (21 seconds).

Burns had a goal and an assist as he played in his 999th straight game. The all-time Ironman streak belongs to Phil Kessel, who skated in 1,064 consecutive games.

Canucks: At Minnesota on Thursday.

Avalanche: At Dallas on Saturday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vancouver Canucks center Teddy Blueger, front, scores a goal past Colorado Avalanche goaltender MacKenzie Blackwood in the first period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon reacts after scoring his 50th goal of the season in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vancouver Canucks right wing Brock Boeser, left, collects the puck as Colorado Avalanche left wing Joel Kiviranta defends in the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vancouver Canucks center Linus Karlsson, left, congratulates center Max Sasson after his goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)