Guardians Beat Dodgers 4-1 as Williams Fans 10

LOS ANGELES — Gavin Williams struck out 10 batters over seven scoreless innings to outduel Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 on Wednesday, securing two wins in their three-game series against the two-time defending champions.

Williams, a right-hander making his fifth career start with double-digit strikeouts, allowed just two hits and three walks while facing only one batter over the minimum through five innings. The 6-foot-6 pitcher navigated his lone jam in the sixth, when Andy Pages singled to open the frame and Alex Freeland walked to put Shohei Ohtani as the potential go-ahead runner. Williams induced a grounder from Ohtani on the first pitch for a 4-6-3 double play and retired Kyle Tucker on a fly out. He capped his outing with a perfect seventh, striking out Will Smith on a 96 mph fastball.

The Guardians, concluding a season-opening road trip, scored their first run in the third inning off Yamamoto, the World Series MVP. Daniel Schneemann doubled to lead off, stole third and came home on a throwing error by catcher Will Smith, whose toss sailed into left field. Gabriel Arias followed with a solo home run to center, his...