Pérez, McKinstry homers send Guardians to 8th straight loss

CLEVELAND — Wenceel Pérez and Zach McKinstry homered as the Detroit Tigers extended the Cleveland Guardians' losing streak to eight games with a 2-1 win Friday. José Ramírez went deep for the Guardians, who are on their longest skid since dropping nine straight in 2021. Tyler Holton (4-3) pitched 2 2/3 innings of one-hit ball to earn the win. Will Vest went 1 1/3 innings for his 14th save in 17 opportunities. Steven Kwan gave the Guardians some hope in the ninth with a two-out double down the left-field line, but Kyle Manzardo hit a grounder to Vest for the final out. Detroit's Reese Olson made his first start since May 17 and allowed only one run on six hits in 4 1/3 innings. The right-hander was out nearly seven weeks due to right ring finger inflammation. Pérez tied it at 1 in the third inning with a drive to center field off Cleveland starter Slade Cecconi (3-4). McKinstry then led off the fourth by connecting on a curve ball over the wall in right-center for his second go-ahead homer of the season. Ramírez snapped an 0-for-21 drought when he put a 94.8 miles per hour fastball from Olson into the right field stands for his 14th homer of the season. It was also the first time he had gone deep since June 14 at Seattle. Cecconi went six innings and threw a career-high 105 pitches. He gave up six hits and struck out five. Key momentCleveland had the bases loaded with two out in the eight inning, but Daniel Schneemann grounded out to second baseman Gleyber Torres on the first pitch of the at-bat to end the frame. Key statThe AL Central-leading Tigers are 6-0 this season when McKinstry homers. Up nextRHP Casey Mize (8-2, 2.86 ERA) takes the hill for Detroit against Cleveland LHP Logan Allen (5-6, 4.27). Thomas leaves game with flare up of foot pain Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas left during the sixth inning of Friday's game due to mild plantar fascia symptoms with his right foot. Thomas missed 11 games in late May and early June because of plantar fasciitis in his right foot. He is batting .160 this season and .197 (13 for 66) since coming off the injured list June 9. He does have four homers in his last 10 games. "We think he's good. The plantar fasciitis flared up a little bit again and I just didn't like the way he looked running around the outfield. So rather than take a chance, I got him out of there," manager Stephen Vogt said after the loss to the Tigers. Thomas also missed five weeks due to a right wrist bone bruise after getting hit by a pitch during the April 8 home opener against the Chicago White Sox.