José Ramírez’s two-run single in the eighth inning of the six-run rally propels the Cleveland Guardians to a 7-0 victory over the San Diego Padres

José Ramírez’s two-run single highlighted a key eighth inning in which Tanner Bibee and three relievers combined for a four-hit shutout that gave the Cleveland Guardians a 7-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on Friday night.

Cleveland scored six runs in the eighth inning, with five hits and a bases-loaded walk from David Fry contributing to their offensive revival. Ramírez’s single up the middle pushed his RBI total to 79 for the season, second-most in MLB behind the Yankees’ Aaron Judge (86).

Brayan Rocchio added a two-run single and Tyler Freeman had a sacrifice fly in the eighth-inning rally. The Guardians, who have the best home record in MLB at 31-11, now have an overall record of 59-37, second only to the Philadelphia Phillies (62-35).

“We’re in a good position right now, but we also want to step it up,” Bibee said of the team’s approach heading into the trade deadline. Bibee (8-4) threw 5 2/3 innings, allowed just two hits and prevented San Diego from getting a runner past second base.

Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis and Nick Sandlin posted Cleveland’s ninth shutout of the season.

“Tanner has proven he’s a top-tier pitcher,” Fry said. “Now everybody in the league sees it. He keeps throwing scoreless innings.”

Luis Arraez and Jake Cronenworth each had two hits for San Diego, which remains 1 1/2 games behind in the race for the final NL wild-card spot. Arraez opted to sit out the All-Star Game to rest his injured left thumb.

“We started out well and got Bibee’s pitch count up, but we couldn’t capitalize on it,” San Diego’s Manny Machado noted. “We hit the ball hard, but right at the defenders.”