We’re going streaking! We’re going thru Colorado and into Los Angeles! Come on everybody! Come on! Hammy? Hamm-a-lammy?
UGH! Don’t you just hate when you have an article about a frustrating loss done, then your favorite team mounts a multi-inning comeback to secure their 2nd straight sweep, 7th straight Win and perfect road trip!? Don’t you just hate it?!?!
(Thanks Jerry, I was being ironical)
Well, if you can guess where this is going, the Cleveland Guardians woke up Wednesday Winners of 6 straight.
Heading into the series Finale in Anaheim, they would have a chance at sweeping their second straight series and matching their season-long win streak at 7 games. They last did this May 16th-22nd, finishing with that Gavin/Chris Sanchez 1-0 classic in Philly, which was the high-water mark for our winning % on the year. Going into an OFF day before a homestand, could Cleveland carry the momentum and finish this road trip strong?
Oh you betcha! But it wouldn’t come easy.
Joey Cantillo was looking for a bounce-back outing, as he struggled in Colorado last Friday to start the road trip, getting knocked out before finishing the 5th inning. Opposing Him would be Grayson Rodriguez, the former Top prospect for Baltimore who is still looking to get going for the Angels. Rodriguez was coming off 7 shutout innings at Houston, his first scoreless start of the season, capping off far-and-away his best month pitching for LAA.
So, how would the Guardians replicate the magic of the night before?
Well, early on it was quite the same as yesterday. Aloha Joe (thank you for the suggestions, trusted comment section!) struggled mightily with control, a problem we’ve gotten far too used to, walking 5 and hitting another thru three innings. He had only given up two hits, including an infield single, but you walk that many batters it’s hard to live long enough to tell the tale. And on the offensive side, the Cleveland bats did also what we saw early last night. Guys were getting on, but we couldn’t find the big hit to bring anyone in.
Cantillo would throw one of the most obvious Pitchergami’s ever: 6IP, 3R/2ER, 2H, 7BB 1K. Also add a HBP, something the Guardians have done far too much of this month. That line is absurd. On the one hand, 7 walks and a hit by pitch is just the easiest way to lose a baseball game. On the other hand, Cantillo didn’t give up a hit after the 3rd batter, got the final 6 outs in the last 5 he faced, induced 2 GIDP and didn’t allow a base runner past 1B after the 2nd inning.
But self-inflicted wounds would get the best of Joey on the scoreboard, as an infield single turned into a Pitcher throw away- accounting for one run, and a disastrous 3 BB, HBP, Sac Fly inning would lead to two more in the second.
Buzz, your starting pitcher, WOOF.
Fortunately for the Guardians, later on was a lot like last night as well!
Trailing 3-0 thru 4, the Guards would chip away with 1 in the 5th (thanks to some good ole fashioned small ball- double, productive ground out and a Sac Fly), another in the 8th (thanks to MORE small ball- bunt single, walk, rbi single) and then finally 1 to tie and another to win in the 9th thanks to 3 straight hits and a game winning Sac Fly (Bazz’s 2nd SF of the game)! Truly an incredible way to never say die and sweep the Road Trip!
What we are seeing from this team is something we haven’t seen since this time last year. Some can point to the schedule, some can say it’s just a reversal of luck. It would also be easy to just say it’s a hot streak. Well, clearly it’s a bit of all 3, but that’s why they play 162!
The Guardians head into an Off day before 3 at home vs KC this weekend (followed by another Off day).
