Gavin Williams has tough start, puts Guardians in big early hole in loss to Dodgers

Andy Pages hit a two-run home run during a six-run first inning and the Los Angeles Dodgers turned the quick start into a 7-2 victory over the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.

Tommy Edman added a two-run double in the opening inning as the National League West-leading Dodgers (85-57) evened the three-game series against the American League Central-leading Guardians (81-61).

Mookie Betts also hit a home run for the Dodgers, who have won or tied each of their previous eight series.

Lane Thomas hit a two-run home run and Andres Gimenez had three hits for the Guardians, who are 3-2 against a pair of playoff contenders in the Kansas City Royals and Dodgers to open a three-city, nine-game road trip.

Cleveland right-hander Gavin Williams never made it out of the opening inning, allowing five runs on two hits and three walks, while recording two outs. Williams (3-8) was coming off his best start of the season when he allowed one run over seven innings against the Royals on Monday.

Williams managed to retire Dodgers leadoff hitter Shohei Ohtani on a groundout before loading the bases on three consecutive walks. Edman followed with a two-run double and Gavin Lux had a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead.

A Miguel Rojas single made it 4-0 before Pages hit his home run on the fifth pitch from right-hander Pedro Avila. It was Pages' 10th home run and first since returning to Los Angeles when rosters expanded at the start of the month.

Thomas cut into the Los Angeles lead with his 10th homer, a two-run drive in the second inning against Dodgers right-hander Michael Grove.

Betts' home run in the fourth, his 16th of the season, gave the Dodgers a 7-2 lead.

Right-hander Brent Honeywell (1-1) picked up the win after not allowing a run over the final two innings.

Ohtani went 0-for-4 to remain at 45 home runs and 46 stolen bases with three weeks remaining as he chases the first 50-50 season in MLB history.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Gavin Williams has tough start, puts Guardians in big early hole in loss to Dodgers