Gavin Williams strikes out 11 as Guardians beat Giants 5-2

CLEVELAND (AP) — Gavin Williams struck out 11 over 5 2/3 innings, José Ramírez had an RBI single in the three-run first and the Cleveland Guardians beat the San Francisco Giants 5-2 for their first home series victory in seven weeks on Thursday.

The Guardians hadn’t won a series at Progressive Field since June 26-28 against Seattle. They are 11-20 overall since the All-Star break.

Williams (12-7) fell one strikeout short of his career high, but moved into a tie for the AL lead in the category with Toronto's Dylan Cease at 201. Cade Smith worked a scoreless ninth for his 32nd save in 37 opportunities as Cleveland won two of three in the interleague set.

Ramírez's single was the 1,751st hit of his career, tying Charlie Jamieson for fifth place in franchise history. Former Giants catcher Patrick Bailey and Nathaniel Lowe also drove in runs in the inning against Landen Roupp (7-13), who lost his fifth straight start.

Willy Adames hit a two-run homer in the fourth — the 200th of his career — to pull San Francisco within 3-2. It also was Adames' 20th of the year, making him the sixth shortstop in MLB history to have six straight 20-homer seasons.

Steven Kwan and Brayan Rocchio added RBI singles in the sixth and eighth, respectively, for the Guardians.

The Giants dropped their eighth consecutive road series and matched their low-water mark of 23 games below .500.

Cleveland outfielders Jo Adell (left kneecap bruise) and Chase DeLauter (left hamstring strain) were not in the lineup, but Adell went 0-for-2 after entering as the designated hitter in the sixth.

Giants: RHP Logan Webb (8-7, 3.50 ERA) starts Friday at Boston.

Guardians: LHP Joey Cantillo (9-7, 3.80 ERA) pitches Friday at Colorado.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

San Francisco Giants shortstop Willy Adames, left, avoids colliding with second baseman Osleivis Basabe as he catches a ball hit by Cleveland Guardians' Petey Halpin during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez celebrates after hitting an RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Gavin Williams delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Thursday, Aug. 20, 2026, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David Dermer)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — An Alabama jury on Thursday awarded $9.25 million in damages after finding that The New York Times defamed a college basketball player by incorrectly reporting that he was at the scene of a fatal shooting in Tuscaloosa.

Kai Spears, who played for the University of Alabama men’s team, sued the Times in 2023 after it published a report, citing a person familiar with the investigation, that indicated he was a passenger in a car involved in the shooting. The Times reported that the person had spoken “on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters.”

Days later, the Times acknowledged its error in an editor's note and corrected the story.

The eight-person jury delivered its verdict after a nine-day trial in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. Matt Glover, an attorney for Spears, said he was pleased with the decision and believes “this verdict will improve journalism throughout the country.”

The Times was reviewing its legal options after losing in court, spokesperson Charlie Stadtlander said.

“We’re disappointed the jury found The Times liable for an honest mistake,” Stadtlander said in a statement Thursday. “We thank the jury for its service, but believe the verdict and award of damages are contrary to law and not supported by the evidence."

Three other basketball players from the school were present at the January 2023 shooting, which killed a 23-year-old mother. In the lawsuit, Spears claimed the inaccurate reporting had caused him emotional distress and forever linked him with a murder.

A Times article reporting on the verdict Thursday said the newspaper “had not lost a defamation lawsuit brought in the United States over one of its articles in more than 50 years.”

FILE - A sign for The New York Times hangs above the entrance to its building in New York, May 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)