Luis Ortiz strikes out career-high 10 in home debut, Guardians beat Royals 6-3 for 5th straight win

CLEVELAND (AP) — Luis Ortiz allowed just one hit and struck out a career-high 10 in his home debut for Cleveland as the Guardians beat the Kansas City Royals 6-3 on Saturday night to extend their winning streak to five games.

Ortiz (1-2) had his second straight strong outing, giving up just a home run in the fourth inning to Vinnie Pasquantino before leaving after 5 2/3 innings. The right-hander was acquired in December from Pittsburgh.

Gabriel Arias homered and José Ramírez hit a sacrifice fly off Mike Lorenzen (1-2) as the Guardians remained unbeaten at home. Arias connected in the sixth inning. He has three homers this season — all against Kansas City.

The Royals entered the ninth with just two hits before getting four straight singles and scoring twice against Guardians All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, who hasn't been himself through the season's first two weeks.

Ortiz held Kansas City hitless until the fourth when Pasquantino drove a pitch over the wall in right-center with one out. It was Pasquantino's second homer and only the seventh in 2025 for the Royals, who came in tied with Toronto for the fewest in the majors.

Arias drove in Cleveland's first run with a single in the fourth. He has five RBIs in the last two games.

After giving up a one-out walk in the sixth while leading 2-1, Ortiz got a favorable called third strike from plate umpire Manny Gonzalez on an outside pitch to whiff Royals star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. for the second time.

The Guardians are 5-0 at home for the first time since 2002, when they opened 7-0 in Progressive Field.

Royals LHP Cole Ragans (0-0, 2.81) had 11 strikeouts last week against Minnesota. He'll start the series finale against Cleveland's Ben Lively (0-1, 4.40), who got a no-decision against Kansas City in the season opener.

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Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr., right, throws to first base after forcing out Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio (4) during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Kansas City Royals' Drew Waters throws his bat after striking out against Cleveland Guardians relief pitcher Cade Smith during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Guardians' Gabriel Arias heads to home plate after hitting a solo home run off Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Kansas City Royals staring pitcher Michael Lorenzen delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez (13) congratulates Vinnie Pasquantino (9) for his solo home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Guardians' Gabriel Arias, left, misses the ball as Kansas City Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. slides into second base with a steal during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Kansas City Royals staring pitcher Michael Lorenzen delivers against the Cleveland Guardians during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Kansas City Royals' Vinnie Pasquantino (9) is greeted in the dugout after hitting a solo home run off Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Guardians' Jose Ramirez, right, watches his RBI sacrifice fly as Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez, left, watches during the fifth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Guardians' Gabriel Arias (13) is greeted by manager Stephan Vogt, second from left, and Austin Hedges, right, after hitting a solo home run off Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) stretches before he delivers against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz (45) delivers against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning of a baseball game in Cleveland, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

NEW YORK (AP) — Harvey Weinstein’s lawyers asked a judge on Wednesday to allow the ailing ex-studio boss to spend his nights at a New York City hospital instead of jail for the duration of his #MeToo rape retrial.

Weinstein’s lawyers made the request as jury selection resumed for a second day. The 73-year-old disgraced movie mogul arrived in court in a wheelchair, as he has at all of his recent court appearances.

In court papers, his lawyers argued that Weinstein’s stay at New York City’s notorious Rikers Island jail complex is exacerbating his health issues and that he'd be better off in the prison ward at Bellevue Hospital. He been back and forth to Bellevue several times in recent months for treatment of various maladies.

Weinstein has numerous health conditions, including chronic myeloid leukemia, heart issues, diabetes, obstructive sleep apnea, sciatica and severe limitations on his ability to walk. A recent tongue infection was misdiagnosed at Rikers, requiring hospitalization, and he has gained nearly 20 pounds (9 kilograms) in the past month, his lawyer Imran Ansari said.

In a statement, Ansari said Weinstein is also subjected to freezing temperatures at Rikers and isn't provided with clean clothing.

“Because of this mistreatment, he has been worn down considerably health wise, and now faces the stress of trial in this condition, which may very well lead to serious health complications, even death,” Ansari said.

Weinstein's lawyers filed a legal claim against New York City last November, alleging he was receiving substandard medical treatment in unhygienic conditions at Rikers. The claim, which seeks $5 million in damages, argues that Weinstein has been returned to Rikers each time before fully recovering at the hospital.

The troubled jail complex has faced growing scrutiny for its mistreatment of detainees and dangerous conditions. Last year, a federal judge cleared the way for a possible federal takeover, finding the city had placed inmates in “unconstitutional danger.”

Judge Curtis Farber has yet to rule on the transfer request, and the issue wasn't discussed in court before jury selection resumed on Wednesday morning.

The first day ended on Tuesday with no one chosen for the panel of 12 jurors and six alternates. Wednesday kicked off with two dozen prospective jurors being brought to the courtroom for more questioning after making it through an initial round a day earlier.

Weinstein is being tried again after New York’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, last year overturned his 2020 conviction and 23-year prison sentence and ordered a new trial, finding that improper rulings and prejudicial testimony tainted the original one.

Weinstein is being retried on two charges from his original trial. He’s accused of raping an aspiring actor in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013 and a criminal sex act by forcing oral sex on a movie and TV production assistant in 2006.

He is also charged with one count of criminal sex act based on an allegation from a woman who was not a part of the original trial. That woman, who has asked not to be named publicly, alleges that Weinstein forced oral sex on her at a Manhattan hotel.

Weinstein has pleaded not guilty and denies raping or sexually assaulting anyone.

Harvey Weinstein appears in state court in Manhattan as jury selection continues in his retrial on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in New York. (Angelina Katsanis/Pool Photo via AP)

Harvey Weinstein appears in state court in Manhattan as jury selection continues in his retrial on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 in New York. (Angelina Katsanis/Pool Photo via AP)

Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)

Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)

Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)

Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)

Harvey Weinstein appears in Manhattan Supreme Court on the second day of jury selection in the rape trial against him, in New York, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)