Guardians Crush Athletics 8–2: Gavin Williams Leads Cleveland Surge

By Oliver Wiener July 22, 2025 11:54

The Cleveland Guardians put on an impressive display at Progressive Field on July 20, 2025, crushing the Oakland Athletics 8–2 behind a dominant pitching performance from Gavin Williams and a career night at the plate by David Fry. The victory not only allowed Cleveland to take the weekend series but also marked a continuation of their impressive surge, having won eight of their last ten games following a rough stretch earlier in the season.

Right-hander Gavin Williams delivered one of his best outings of the year, going seven strong innings while striking out 11 batters and allowing just one run on four hits. Williams tied his career high in strikeouts and earned his first win since June 1, improving his record to 6-4 overall and showing marked improvement after a challenging start to the season. He dominated early, fanning five of the first six Athletics hitters he faced, and after a dominant first half, cruised through the latter innings with remarkable efficiency. Reflecting on his outing, Williams said, “I was focused on attacking the strike zone early, trusting my stuff, and letting the defense work behind me. Getting that first win in a while really feels good and it helps the team too.”

Offensively, the Guardians were propelled by David Fry, who had a career-best four RBIs, highlighted by a clutch three-run double in the fourth inning that broke the game open. With the bases loaded, Fry lined a double down the left-field line, scoring Brayan Rocchio, Will Wilson, and Austin Hedges to extend Cleveland’s lead to 5–0 and effectively put the Athletics on their heels. Fry’s timely hitting was complemented by Angel Martínez, who racked up three hits, including a solo home run in the seventh that gave Cleveland a 6–1 cushion.

The Guardians’ attack was both balanced and relentless. Austin Hedges and Will Wilson contributed with productive at-bats, and Cleveland’s lineup combined patience and power throughout the game. The Athletics, meanwhile, struggled to contain Williams’ electric stuff and could only muster two runs against the Guardians’ pitching staff.

Oakland starter Jeffrey Springs (8-7) was touched up for five runs over four innings, surrendering nine hits and seeing his two-game winning streak come to an end. Springs was unable to slow down Cleveland’s offensive momentum, and the Athletics have now lost nine of their last ten games at Progressive Field.

Guardians manager Rafael Foster praised his team’s comprehensive performance, noting, “Gavin’s outing was huge. When our pitching holds, it gives our hitters confidence, and tonight that connection really showed. David Fry came through when we needed it and Angel’s homer was just the icing on the cake.”

This 8-2 victory also marked a historic note for Cleveland, as they clinched the season series against Oakland 4-2. It’s their first time winning four straight season series against the Athletics since 1956, back when Oakland was still based in Philadelphia. The Guardians now sit just below .500 at 48-50 and look poised to build upon their recent surge as they head into a four-game series with the Baltimore Orioles.

Looking ahead, RHP Tanner Bibee gets the call on Monday as Cleveland looks to maintain momentum and push toward the postseason. For the Athletics, the focus shifts to a three-game series in Texas, where LHP Jacob Lopez will take the mound and aim to stop their skid.

In summary, the Guardians’ commanding 8–2 win was fueled by Gavin Williams’ pitching brilliance and key offensive contributions from David Fry and Angel Martínez. This pivotal victory is a strong sign of Cleveland’s upward trajectory as they chase playoff relevance in the tightly contested American League.