Guards win with bottom of the order offense and strong pitching!
The Cleveland Guardians were looking to avoid a series sweep in Game 3 against the Houston Astros. After two disappointing loses, it was crucial for the Guardians offense to make a splash and help out the pitching staff with some much needed run support.
Tanner Bibee got the start for Cleveland, looking his dominant self through the third. Going into the fourth inning he had only thrown 35 pitches and was showing great command.
In the bottom of the second, Gabriel Arias hit a towering one-out double. Arias went for the double and actually judged it correctly this time, reaching the base standing. With the team running themselves out of innings, it was a breath of relief that he was on base for Bo Naylor’s at bat.
Bo launched one to right field, putting the Guardians up 2-0 with some signs of life from the bottom of the order.
Bibee was working strong all through the sixth, a combination of timely strikes, good framing from Bo, and a strong defense.
Just like his New York start, Bibee was on the precipice of working out of the seventh with a low pitch count and a goose egg in the opponent’s box score. A borderline pitch three that had been called a strike all game, was suddenly deemed a ball. Instead of striking out a batter, the next pitch was a long, two-RBI double that tied the game. Bibee ended his day with 6.1 innings pitched. 5H/2R/2ER/0BB/6K on only 88 pitches. Cade Smith came on in relief and got the side out without any further damage.
The Guardians came back to tack on two more runs, again from the bottom of the line up. Johnathan Rodríguez hit a lead off single and was lifted for pinch runner Nolan Jones. Bo followed up with his third hit of the game, another single. Will Wilson laid down a successful bunt to move the runners, but a throwing error gave him second base, Bo third base, and scored Nolan Jones. Steven Kwan hit a sac fly to score Bo and put the Guards back up by two.
Cade Smith made quick work of the Astros in the eighth inning, finishing his day pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless, hitless baseball, striking out three. Emmanuel Clase came out to close the game, allowing two hits but shutting things down for a Guardian W.
Gabriel Arias went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a run. Bo Naylor had his second three hit game of the season. He went 3-for-4 with two runs and two RBI.
What a great win to hopefully help breathe some life into this offense as the Guardians roll into another LHP heavy series against the Cincinnati Reds.
The homestand continues tomorrow against the Reds with a 6:40 PM EDT start. Luis Ortiz will face off against LHP Wade Miley.