Guardians' DeLauter Stars in Home Debut, 4-1 Win Over Cubs

Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter delivered a standout performance in his first regular-season home game, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs to help his team secure a 4-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Friday at Progressive Field.

DeLauter tied the score at 1-1 in the fifth inning with a two-out single to left field that scored Daniel Schneemann. The Guardians then pulled ahead in the seventh when Gabriel Arias hit a solo home run to make it 2-1. Three batters later, DeLauter crushed a 96.6 mph fastball from Cubs reliever Hunter Harvey 402 feet into the right-field stands for a two-run homer, scoring Steven Kwan, who had walked earlier in the inning. The blast extended Cleveland's lead to 4-1, which held as reliever Connor Brogdon earned the win with a perfect seventh inning and Cade Smith pitched a scoreless ninth for his second save.

The Cubs jumped ahead early with a run in the second inning after Pete Crow-Armstrong reached on a popup that dropped in front of shortstop Gabriel Arias, who had called off third baseman Jose Ramirez. Miguel Amaya followed with a double to score Crow-Armstrong. Guardians starter Joey Cantillo allowed the run over 5 1/3 innings,...