When this game started, after a brief rain delay, many fans probably assumed this would result in Kansas City sweeping Cleveland. Parker Messick got the start and looked a bit loose to start the game. He gave up a run and threw over 30 pitches in the first inning alone.
But Messick locked in and threw a quality start. He improved to 11-8 on the season, threw 6.0 innings, and gave up five hits and two walks on top of the single run allowed. He struck out five batters.
Tim Herrin, Hunter Gaddis, and
Cade Smith all threw one scoreless inning of work to finish the game.
The offense only put up multi-run innings. In the first four innings alone, they had three innings of three run ball. Cleveland quickly tied the game in the bottom of the first. Chase DeLauter doubled on a sharp liner to right and advanced to third on a fielding error. José Ramírez went 2-for-3 with a walk. His at bat in the first inning was the only one where he recorded an out. José hit a sacrifice fly to center to score DeLauter easily. Jo Adell drew a two-out walk and was brought home by Nathaniel Lowe. Lowe hit a two-run home run to left center into the railing into the bleachers.
In the bottom of the third the offense tacked on three more. Back-to-back singles from the top of the order and a walk from José loaded them up. If, like me, you were expecting them to get out of the inning without a run, do not fret. Jo Adell is on this team now and brought runners home! Jo Adell hit a double to left to score both Steven Kwan and DeLauter.
Nathaniel Lowe added another RBI to his night with a sac fly to score José from third. In the bottom of the fourth the first five did it again. Steven Kwan and Chase DeLauter hit back-to-back doubles, scoring Kwan. José added to his impressive night with a two-run home run to right field. It was his first home run since June 6th.
Steven Kwan drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the sixth. DeLauter and José hit back-to-back singles, scoring Kwan. After his AB DeLauter was lifted for pinch runner Petey Halpin. Jo Adell singled to score Halpin for the final run of the game.
The Guardians won the game with eleven runs on thirteen hits, on errors. Steven Kwan went 2-for-3 with three runs and a walk. José Ramírez went 2-for-3 with two runs, four RBI, a walk and a home run. Nathaniel Lowe went 1-for-4 with one run and three RBI. Jo Adell went 3-for-4 with one run, three RBI, and a walk. Chase DeLauter went 4-for-4 with three runs an RBI and this great defensive highlight:
The Guardians have an off day tomorrow, which is why we saw Hunter and Cade this game. What a way to end the week. Hopefully they can roll this momentum into the Blue Jays series now that they’ve moved past the red hot Royals.
