Josh Naylor hits a two-run HR and himself with his bat, helping the Guardians beat the Athletics 6-3

CLEVELAND (AP) — Josh Naylor hit a two-run homer and celebrated by striking himself on the helmet with his bat, providing the Cleveland Guardians with the go-ahead run in a 6-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night.

Naylor’s drive in the fifth off Alex Wood drove in Steven Kwan, giving Cleveland a 4-2 lead. The animated slugger delivered a two-handed smack to his head as the ball cleared the fence in right-center, then spiked the lumber onto the grass.

“I always just try to be your best self in any situation,” a much calmer Naylor said after the game. “It was a cool moment, but it was for the boys and that's all I really play for. When we get punched, we punch back."

Two innings later, Naylor again drove in Kwan, with an RBI single off Austin Adams. He is hitting .429 with five homers, 11 RBIs and eight runs in eight home games this season.

“In moments like that, he becomes Josh Naylor,” Kwan said. “That's the inner competitor. And off the field, he's the stereotypical Canadian, the nicest guy ever who takes care of his people.”

Kwan doubled twice and had two singles -- his MLB-high sixth three-hit game -- and José Ramírez and Ramón Laureano had RBI doubles for the Guardians, who have the best record in the American League at 15-6.

Cleveland and rookie manager Stephen Vogt have won six of their last seven and are off to their best start through 21 games since 1999.

“That's Josh Naylor, man, he's emotional and charismatic,” Vogt said. “As long as he didn't concuss himself, I'm all right with the celebration.”

Guardians starter Logan Allen (3-0) pitched five innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Emmanuel Clase worked the ninth for his sixth save in eight chances.

Max Schuemann tied the score at 2-2 in the fifth with his first big league hit, a homer, prompting an emotional celebration by his family in the stands. Schuemann, a 26-year-old who made his debut on April 12, also stole a base.

Ryan Noda had a solo homer in the fifth and Shea Langeliers added a sixth-inning sacrifice fly for Oakland.

Wood (0-2) gave up four runs in five innings, lowering his ERA to 7.89 through five starts.

Ramírez and Laureano opened the scoring in the first with sharp RBI doubles just inside the third base line. Laureano spent 5 1/2 years with the Athletics before being claimed off waivers by Cleveland last Aug. 7.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: 3B J.D. Davis (right groin strain) has not resumed baseball activities, but was cleared to walk on a treadmill Friday. Davis is eligible to come off the 10-day IL on April 25.

Guardians: LHP Sam Hentges (left middle finger inflammation) worked one scoreless inning, throwing 10 strikes in 14 pitches, in his initial rehab outing for Double-A Akron on Friday.

UP NEXT

Athletics RHP Ross Stripling (0-4, 5.32 ERA) takes on Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (1-0, 4.82 ERA) in the three-game series finale. Stripling is tied for the major league lead in losses, while Bibee has averaged 4.7 innings and 4.5 strikeouts in his first four starts.

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

Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio tags out Oakland Athletics' Esteury Ruiz at second base as Ruiz attempted to stretch a single into a double during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Oakland Athletics' Esteury Ruiz is caught stealing second base by Cleveland Guardians' Gabriel Arias during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan catches a fly ball hit by Oakland Athletics' Max Schuemann during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Guardians' Ramón Laureano hits an RBI double against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Oakland Athletics' Max Schuemann is congratulated for his solo home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Logan Allen, his first homer in the majors, during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Oakland Athletics' Max Schuemann hits a solo home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Logan Allen for his first career home run, during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor celebrates his two-run home run off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Alex Wood during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

Cleveland Guardians' Josh Naylor celebrates his two-run home run off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Alex Wood during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 20, 2024, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Nick Cammett)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Alex Ovechkin scored three goals Sunday night to continue his pursuit of Wayne Gretzy's career record, and former Golden Knight Logan Thompson saved 39 shots in his first game back at T-Mobile Arena as the Washington Capitals beat Vegas 5-2.

Jakob Chychrun and Jakub Vrana also scored goals for the Capitals, and Dylan Strome and Aliaksei Protas each had two assists.

Brett Howden and Keegan Kolesar scored for the Golden Knights, and Ilya Samsonov stopped 20 shots.

Ovechkin now has 866 goals, 29 from surpassing The Great One as the NHL career leader. It was his 31st career hat trick and his 176th career multigoal game, behind only Gretzky's 189. Ovechkin also extended his record to 315 power-play goals.

Both goals also were his first against former Capitals goalie Samsonov.

The Golden Knights played a video tribute to Thompson, who played for the club from 2021-24, midway through the first period. He appeared emotional as the crowd roared, repeatedly tapping his heart.

Vegas' loss left coach Bruce Cassidy still one victory shy of 400.

Capitals: Thompson is 2-0 against his former team this season, saving 63 of 67 shots.

Golden Knights: Jack Eichel extended his point streak to six games. He has two goals and 10 assists over that stretch.

Showing he’s not simply an offensive player, Ovechkin saved a goal in the second period when he got his stick on Ivan Barbashev’s open-net shot. That allow the Capitals to remain in front 3-2.

The Capitals were winless in six previous regular-season trips to T-Mobile before this game. Washington, of course, won the 2018 Stanley Cup in this arena.

The Capitals visit Utah on Monday to conclude three-game road swing. The Golden Knights visit Toronto on Wednesday to open five-game road trip.

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

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) celebrates after scoring against the Washington Capitals during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Washington Capitals center Connor McMichael (24) skates around Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Washington Capitals goaltender Logan Thompson (48) attempts to knock the puck away against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (8) celebrates after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin, center, celebrates after scoring against the Vegas Golden Knights during the first period of an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)