Trade deadline acquisition Jo Adell belted a mammoth three-run homer and had a career-high six RBIs in the first four innings, leading the Cleveland Guardians over the visiting San Francisco Giants 8-1 on Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old outfielder tacked on a two-run single in the second, plating Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez for the second time apiece, then singled home Brayan Rocchio in the fourth to extend the advantage to 6-1.
National League All-Star Foster Griffin (14-4) worked six strong innings for Cleveland, allowing a solo homer to Bryce Eldridge and five total hits. The left-hander struck out six and walked two, winning his second straight.
The Guardians picked up Adell from the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 3, the same day Griffin came over from the Washington Nationals. Griffin and Matt Festa retired 10 straight hitters between the fourth and seventh.
Angel Martinez also drove in a run for Cleveland, which finished its game one-half game behind the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles for the final American League wild-card spot. The Guardians and Giants are both 10-19 since the All-Star break.
Whisenhunt gave up career highs of nine hits and seven runs (six earned) over four innings. The lefty walked two with a single strikeout, falling to 1-4 in five starts since his most recent recall from Triple-A Sacramento.
Eldridge went deep leading off the second to pull San Francisco within 3-1. Jonah Cox and Eldridge had two hits apiece, while Rafael Devers went 0-for-4 and is batting 9-for-48 (.188) since Aug. 3.
Adell and Ramirez each had three hits, while rookie Angel Genao singled and doubled to raise his average to .324 in his first 11 games in the majors.
Home plate umpire Jordan Baker left the game before the top of the fifth, moving Rob Drake from third place to the plate. Baker was struck on the mask by a foul ball by San Francisco’s Andrew Knizner in the second.
