A very businesslike win for the Guardians tonight as they beat the Angels 5-2.
The Guardians scored early to give Parker Messick a small lead to work with, which has been rare of late for Cleveland’s best pitcher and Cy Young/Rookie of the Year candidate.
Nathaniel “Knows What to Do With RISP” Lowe got a sacrifice fly in the third after a Kwan walk, Jose single and Jo Adell walk. Rocchio had flied out sharply to begin the inning and Angel Genao was putting up an excellent AB when Adell was caught in a rundown
that ended with Jose getting tagged out at third.
Messick’s only troublesome inning was the fourth where a single from Zach Neto and single from Mike Trout allowed a Moises Ballesteros single to drive in the Angels’ only run to tie the game at 1. I am so impressed with how Messick never gets frustrated. He finds his center and gets himself out of trouble over and over.
Another Guardians newcomer got a hit with RISP when Adell got an RBI hit in the fifth to make it 2-1 Guardians.
Then, folks… Austin Hedges hit a two-run homer off a lefty reliever to score Angel Genao who had walked. Somehow, we are at August 24th and Hedges has a 110 wRC+. Is this man going to get a $10M contract from someone as a 35 year old? Good for him. Incredible.
Messick went six, Colin Holderman and Hunter Gaddis held the Angels scoreless for two and then Cade Smith had another shaky ninth, weirdly, but still got the save allowing one run.
I felt like Jose looked a little better at the plate. Now, to hope that Chase DeLauter’s hamstring tightness scratching him from the initial lineup turns out to be nothing. Also… does anyone know if David Fry is alive? Man hasn’t had an at-bat since he got back.
I have to say that it IS nice to know fly balls to the outfield will be caught by either Kwan or Petey Halpin. I get it, Stephen. I get it.
