Much like in the last game I wrote about, this game, too, has been played by the Guardians quite a few times this year. Look out of whack for the first games of the series, and then suddenly put it all together to salvage the series in the finale. Regardless, I won’t be nearly as negative in today’s recap as I was in my last recap. Let’s start with the pitching.
Cantillo was shaky today, but managed — somehow — to Houdini act his way into a decent start. 5 innings, 2 runs. The command was an issue
for him today (5 walks), most notably in the 3rd inning. Walk, walk, single, strikeout, RBI walk. The bases were loaded with 1 out, and the Guardians looked to be on the verge of blowing another lead. But, Cantillo managed to get Rangers’ rookie Cauley to ground into a double play, ending the inning. Cantillo’s only other earned run of the day came in the 6th. He walked the leadoff hitter, and was then pulled for Holdrman. Holderman gave up a single, then two groundouts (the second of which managed to drive in a run). Holderman, like Cantillo, was shaky. Holderman, however, moreso suffered from batted ball luck than command issues. He gave up 3 hits, 2 of which left the bat at less than 80 mph. (The sequence went single, forceout, RBI groundout, double, single, strikeout). One of those groundouts was corralled miraculously by second baseman Daniel Schneemann, preventing more damage that inning.
Herrin pitched the 7th, giving up a single and a walk, but managed to get out of danger by striking out Pederson and getting Smith to ground into a double play.
Sabrowski pitched the 8th, striking out 2 Rangers but unfortunately also giving up a solo homer to Elias Diaz.
Festa pitched the 9th, allowing no baserunners in a 1-2-3 inning.
To the offense.
They actually started out pretty strong today, but finally managed to put runs on the board in the 2nd. Rocchio and Arias both singled to start off the inning, and then Watson struckout. Hedges pulled off a textbook bunt, driving in Rocchio. Schneemann was walked on four pitches, and then Fry did this.
5 runs by the end of the 2nd inning is an almost Herculean task for this Guardians offense, and it’s nice to know that this, in one form or another, is actually possible with this iteration of the lineup.
The Rangers managed to pull within 2 runs of the Guardians (thanks to the bullpen) in the 6th, but the Guardians answered back in the 7th. Kwan hit a triple (?), and then DeLauter (recording his 3rd hit of the day), scorched a ball to right field (110 mph), driving in Kwan. DeLauter stole second, and then Rangers reliever Winston Santos threw a couple oopsies into the dirt. Those wild pitches got DeLauter from second to home in a matter of three pitches. Hoskins walked, and then the Guardians made 3 consecutive outs to end the inning.
Much to Josh Naylor’s chagrin, Austin Hedges hit a home run today. For those keeping track at home, Hedges now has a wRC+ above Naylor’s, and an fWAR total most likely tied with Naylor’s after today’s events. Not bad for a backup to a backup.
The Guardians managed to salvage the series, winning today’s affair 9-4. The White Sox come to town for a very consequential 4-game set starting tomorrow. It’ll be Cecconi vs. Davis Martin.
