The Guardians could probably have used Josh Naylor's bat this year, but having Slade Cecconi pitch for Cleveland for this year and many more seems like a great trade-off.
Nick covered the recap for the game here. Suffice it to say that Cecconi was pretty electric for 8 innings, surrendering only three solo shots and staking his team to an 8-3 lead. He sprinted down the dugout steps after the 8th so manager Stephen Vogt couldn't try to lift him from the game and earned himself a chance to start the 9th.
Then, Johnathan Rodriguez happened. Nick Kurtz opened up the inning with a well-struck triple . Then Brent Rooker followed with a second triple that had an expected batting average of .050. You can see how badly Rodriguez misplayed it here:
Cecconi then got a strikeout and got Shea Langeliers to send a lazy fly ball with a .210 batting average to right field. Where Johnathan Rodriguez was, perhaps, taking a nap and let it fall and then misplayed it into a double:
Rodriguez hit his first major league home run yesterday. I'd like to have that be his farewell send-off because this was atrocious.
In other news, Steven Kwan played in the All-Star game with a wrist injury that was so bad he needed an injection on Wednesday and had to miss the game last night. Personally, I think that was selfish on his part. I am sure some disagree with me.
Luis Ortiz's paid administrative leave got extended until 8/31. Not a good sign for him ever pitching again.
Gabriel Arias started a rehab assignment last night in Columbus, and Chase DeLauter was nowhere to be found in the lineup with no update on HIS wrist condition as yet. But, hey Travis Bazzana was back in Akron and rapped out two singles.
More from coveringthecorner.com:
- MLB trade rumors: Indians acquire Joe Smith from Blue Jays
- MLB trade rumors: Indians “pushing hard” for Zach Britton
- Indians go small at trade deadline, can still win big in October
- MLB trade rumors: Indians have had talks with Rangers about Yu Darvish
- MLB trade rumors: Indians “targeting” Joe Smith
- Could Deadline Day be a quiet one for the Indians?
- Mike Clevinger faces off against Doug Fister and Boston Red Sox
