LUKE MAILE

ARLINGTON, Texas — (AP) — A sturdy pair goggles was mandatory attire Sunday in Cleveland's clubhouse, where impromptu showers of Champagne and beer broke out inside a thick haze of cigar smoke. The Guardians, baseball's youngest team, finished an unexpected run to the top of the AL Central. The season began with low expectations everywhere but inside Cleveland's clubhouse. Maybe is was naivete, but the Guardians believed they could be special and that's exactly what's happened. ‘Tito’ (Francona) said just find a way to help the team win.

A sturdy pair of goggles was mandatory attire Sunday in Cleveland's clubhouse, where impromptu showers of Champagne and beer broke out inside a thick haze of cigar smoke. The Guardians, baseball's youngest team, finished an unexpected run to the top of the AL Central. Rookie Steven Kwan hit a grand slam and drove in a season-high five runs as the Guardians clinched a division championship no one thought possible six months ago with a 10-4 win over the Texas Rangers.

The Cleveland Guardians clinched their first AL Central title since 2018 when the second-place Chicago White Sox lost to the Detroit Tigers 4-1.

Angels star Mike Trout’s streak of consecutive games hitting a home run ended at seven, one shy of the major league record, and the AL Central-leading Cleveland Guardians beat Los Angeles 3-1.

Some Yankees fans in the right-field bleachers pelted Cleveland outfielders with bottles, cans and debris in a chaotic scene moments after Isiah Kiner-Falefa and pinch-hitter Gleyber Torres got RBI hits with two outs in the ninth inning to lift New York to a 5-4 win.

Guardians Reds Baseball Cleveland Guardians' Andres Gimenez, left, points as he yells to celebrate with Jose Ramirez after the final out of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Tuesday, April 12, 2022. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster) (Aaron Doster)CINCINNATI — (AP) — José Ramírez hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, remarkable rookie Steven Kwan reached base three more times and the Cleveland Guardians spoiled Cincinnati's home opener by beating the Reds 10-5 Tuesday. Kwan has now reached base at least three times in all five games of his major league career. He has reached base in 18 of 24 plate appearances, the most times for any player in his first five games since 1901. UP NEXTLHP Nick Lodolo, who the Reds selected seventh overall in the 2019 draft, will make his major league debut.

José Ramírez hit a grand slam and drove in six runs, remarkable rookie Steven Kwan reached base three more times and the Cleveland Guardians spoiled Cincinnati’s home opener by beating the Reds 10-5.

Bobby Witt Jr. capped his highly anticipated big league debut with his first hit, a go-ahead double with two outs in the eighth inning, sending the Kansas City Royals to a 3-1 victory over the rechristened Cleveland Guardians.

After two difficult years, Terry Francona finally feels like himself.

Brewers Giants Baseball Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Devin Williams, right, meets on the mound with catcher Luke Maile during the eighth inning of the team's baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Thursday, Sept. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) (Jeff Chiu)ST. LOUIS — (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers reliever Devin Williams fractured his throwing hand when he punched a wall after his team celebrated its NL Central title, likely knocking him out for the entire postseason. Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said before the Brewers' Wednesday night game with the St. Louis Cardinals that Williams' injury likely will require surgery. Last year as a rookie, Williams went 4-1 with an 0.33 ERA in 22 appearances while striking out 53 batters in 27 innings, and opponents batted .090 against him. I think at that point, he recognized that he had hurt himself.”Stearns said Williams then notified the Brewers’ medical staff.

Daniel Vogelbach delivered a pinch-hit grand slam off Alex Reyes to cap a five-run rally in the ninth inning that gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 6-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Adrian Houser pitched his first pro shutout, throwing a crisp three-hitter that led the Milwaukee Brewers over the St. Louis Cardinals 4-0.

Jace Peterson hit a go-ahead single in the seventh, Lorenzo Cain homered for a second straight game and the Milwaukee Brewers knocked the San Francisco Giants out of the top spot in the National League for the first time in more than three months.

Members of the Cleveland Indians line up for the national anthem before an exhibition baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh, Saturday, July 18, 2020. Musgrove struck out five against one hit and one walk in his final tune-up before things start to count. HERE AND THEREChristian Arroyo hit a two-run double in the eighth to spark Cleveland's rally from a 3-0 deficit. ... Zach Plesac allowed two runs on six hits with no walks and six strikeouts in five innings for the Indians. ... Guillermo Heredia, who will start in right field for the Pirates while starter Gregory Polanco recovers from the novel coronavirus, drove in two runs for Pittsburgh.