Rookie’s first big league hit leads Guardians to sweep of Mets

Rookie Johnathan Rodriguez delivered his first MLB hit, an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh that snapped a tie, as the Cleveland Guardians rallied to nip and sweep the visiting New York Mets, 6-3 on Wednesday.

David Fry started the rally with a single off reliever Reed Garrett (5-1). Fry advanced to second on a one-out wild pitch before Rodriguez chopped a fastball between first and second for the go-ahead blow.

Hunter Gaddis (3-1) worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to pick up the win as Cleveland extended its winning streak to a season-high six games. Rookie Cade Smith pitched a scoreless ninth for his first MLB save.

Neither starter was involved in the decision.

New York's Jose Quintana worked six innings, giving up four hits and three runs, with no walks and four strikeouts. Guardians right-hander Triston McKenzie permitted five hits and three runs in five-plus innings, walking three and fanning five.

McKenzie labored from the start, needing 11 pitches to retire leadoff hitter Francisco Lindor. The next hitter, Pete Alonso, ripped his 11th homer for a 1-0 Mets lead two batters into the game.

Jeff McNeil made it 2-0 in the second, lining a solo homer over the right-center wall. It was his third of the season. The margin grew to 3-0 in the fourth when Harrison Bader clouted his second homer this season.

Meanwhile, Quintana controlled the Cleveland offense for five innings, needing only 52 pitches to reach the sixth. But his mastery expired there.

After Tyler Freeman extended the inning with a two-out double that moved Austin Hedges to third, Andres Gimenez drilled a three-run shot to right-center, his fourth of the season.

The Guardians tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth on Jose Ramirez's RBI double and Kyle Manzardo's run-scoring double.

Fry was the lone Guardians player with multiple hits, going 2-for-3. Lindor went 2-for-5 for the Mets.