This team is very funny. Scored 6 runs in a game where they went 6 consecutive innings without scoring any. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth or anything, but it’d be nice if these runs could come earlier in the game going forward… if for no other reason than to keep me from getting a stress ulcer.
Anyway! The pitching was nearly lights out, again, tonight.
Parker Messick went 5 1/3 innings giving up 2 runs and striking out 9. You would’ve, in a perfect world, maybe liked to have seen him go 6+,
especially with the looming double-header. But, nonetheless, he was still great tonight. Festa gave up Messick’s runs, for what it’s worth. Not that Messick gave him a great situation, but it’s still important to note the context behind his performance. Festa was fine. He recorded both of his outs via strikeout. The top of the order had a pretty decent game today, which is nice to see. Our 1-5 hitters went 6/20 with a walk and 6 RBI. Really, really nice to see the top of the order pick up some of the slack after their relative absence in the Detroit series.
Bo Naylor was awesome today. Botempber, Septembo, whatever you’d like to call it, he’s just kept on rolling. He’s slashing .302/.333/.488. In 12 games this month, he’s driven in 11. He’s been unbelievably important to this team’s winning stretch and was the main reason the Guardians won this game. He started off the Guardians’ scoring in the 1st with this 2-RBI single.
He also put the Guardians back on top with this nearly identical 2-RBI single in the 8th.
Kwan and Angel drove in the last 2 runs, and that was that. Cade Smith closed out the game (definitely an interesting choice given the 4-run lead and looming double-header).
Unsung hero of the night, before I forget, Jakob Junis. What an amazing, under-the-radar performance from him. When the game was hanging in the balance, he pitched 2 beautiful innings, didn’t allow a baserunner, and struck out **4**. Lowered his season ERA to 2.78. Really, really awesome to be able to protect the majority of your leverage arms before a double-header.
Also, Jose stole his 40th base of the season, and climbed to 3rd all-time in the franchise leaderboard for games played. Seems like he’s ascending the rungs of a different team leaderboard every day. This was Jose’s 2nd consecutive 40-SB season. Fun!
Win tomorrow, goodnight!
