![MLB: Oakland Athletics at Cleveland Guardians](https://i0.wp.com/www.clevelandsports.today/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/usa_today_23075535.0.jpg?ssl=1)
News and Notes for Sunday, April 21st, 2024
The Guardians hammered the A’s 6-3 on Saturday night and Josh Naylor hammered his own head as he hit a go-ahead two-run home run.
Logan Allen had some command issues but mostly kept hitters off-balance until giving up two solo-homers in the fifth inning and then a triple in the sixth after getting a quick out. Allen can’t afford to walk three batters most nights because of the susceptibility to those home runs, but he got away with it against the A’s. The bullpen was sensational again with 3 and 2/3rds scoreless innings with seven strikeouts (three from Scott Barlow, and two each from Hunter Gaddis and Emmanuel Clase). Here’s Allen after the game
“All in all, I just got to be a little better.”
Logan Allen talks about frustrations he had towards the end of his outing after starting off the game on a high note.#ForTheLand | @CleGuardians pic.twitter.com/S7MnJ2HVy2
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) April 21, 2024
And here’s Stephen Vogt on the hero of the game, Naylor, and Allen:
“That’s Josh Naylor man. Obviously he’s emotional and charismatic. As long as he didn’t concuss himself, I’m alright.”
Manager Stephen Vogt comments on the raw emotion Josh Naylor displayed after his 2-run homer to extend the Guardians’ lead.#ForTheLand | @CleGuardians pic.twitter.com/RgbEEBVhML
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) April 21, 2024
Speaking of Naylor, don’t miss his monstrous home run after the Athletics had tied the game:
This guy is unbelievable.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/XSXd2YLfAW
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 20, 2024
And his reaction:
Love him so much.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/3vSq9qFkYA
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 20, 2024
Steven Kwan was 4 for 5 and has a .374 batting average, David Fry was 2 for 4 with a walk, and Gabriel Arias was 2 for 4. Arias has pretty much cemented himself a starting role, perhaps at multiple positions, with how he has hit of late. I’ve been a doubter that he would be able to be an above-average hitter after last season but it seems recent adjustments he has made at the plate may have helped him. A good reminder never to assume you know what a 24 year-old hitter is going to be.
In other news, Tyler Freeman seems to actually be a darn good centerfielder:
Athlete. No other way to put it.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/7L5QuOjByN
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 20, 2024
Kyle Manzardo is heating up in Columbus with two-home runs. The Guardians for sure would have to move an outfielder to get him on the roster soon (not saying they WILL, just if they want to do so), which leaves them with demoting Ramon Laureano (extremely unlikely) or Will Brennan or DFA’ing Estevan Florial, because Kwan and Freeman aren’t going anywhere of course. I suspect the team will give Brennan and Florial another few weeks to demonstrate their value to the roster before making this move. I think Laureano as a veteran and a guy who was hit lefties well his whole career will stay.
In MLB draft prospect updates, Charlie Condon hit another home run:
Charlie Condon can’t be STOPPED
The 2024 Draft prospect crushes his 2nd homer of the day, bringing his career total to 51 — two shy of tying Georgia’s all-time record.
( : @BaseballUGA)pic.twitter.com/HA1c7cqEPR
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) April 20, 2024
But so did Travis Bazzana, in his second game after returning from being hit on the hand:
That’s no foul, that’s a Baz bomb! #GoBeavs pic.twitter.com/IBSeklgXqP
— Oregon State Baseball (@BeaverBaseball) April 21, 2024
Around MLB:
The Twins finally won and the Royals finally lost.