(AP Photo/Phil Long)
The Guardians were looking to win two straight, coming off a 4-2 win on Thursday night where Parker Messick was phenomenal, taking a no-hitter into the 9th inning and Cleveland got just enough run support from Jose Ramirez’s 2-run homer and Kwan and Valera’s RBI singles.
For 7 innings, things looked good for the Guardians.
6 1/2 innings through the game, there was absolutely no offense from either team, being 0-0 before the first runs were scored in the bottom of the 7th.
Tanner Bibee finally looked like an ace, going 6.0 IP, with no runs given up and 5 strikeouts, and Chris Bassitt was great for Baltimore, giving up no runs through 5.0 IP.
Tanner seemed to have better control of his arsenal all game compared to last game vs Atlanta, seeming a little more aggressive, going at the batters.
If Tanner can continue to pitch like he did Friday night and be a little more consistent, then he could definitely get his label as the team’s “ace” back from Guardians fans.
In the bottom of the 7th, tied 0-0, the Guardians had bases loaded with 0 Outs, looking to put a run on the board but things looked scary for the Guardians for a second there, with Manzardo and Hoskins both going down swinging, not putting the ball into play to produce a run and it was up to Daniel Schneemann to come through with another 2-out RBI knock.
Boy did Schneemann come through, crushing a 96.7 MPH heater from Anthony Nunez 407 ft for a Grand Slam to make it a 4-0 game. It’s the second grand slam of the season for the Guardians, and the second of Schneemann’s career.
Video Credit: Cleveland Guardians on X / MLB
99.9% of Guardians fans were positive the game was over and the Guardians’ bullpen was going to close the game and secure the win…………nope.
The Guardians bullpen blew the game, immediately giving up 6 runs after Schneemann’s grand slam in the top of the 8th, going down 6-4.
It all started with Steven Vogt putting in Shawn Armstrong, who’s done nothing but pitch bad for this Guardians team this season. The reason for Vogt to keep throwing Armstrong out there, no one knows.
Armstrong started the inning by allowing a walk, a HBP, and another walk to load the bases with no outs. Armstrong was then relieved by Erik Sabrowski, who had his second bad outing in a row, allowing a sacrifice fly, a walk, then a 2-run double.
It was now a 4-3 game and Vogt brought in Connor Brogdon, another pitcher who has struggled recently, immediately giving up a 3-run go-ahead home run out of the pen to put Cleveland down 6-4.
Just like that, the loud and energetic Progressive Field Crowd that was celebrating a go-ahead grand slam was now dead quiet and pissed.
Steven Vogt is the main person to blame, making bad decision after bad decision with the bullpen. And to be honest, it’s getting quite annoying.
Cleveland is going to have to figure out their bullpen situation because as of right now, it’s not looking good. But this is what is to be expected when your front office constantly digs through the bargain bin for free agent signings and trades. You never know what you’re going to get and it looks like Cleveland’s cheapness backfired on them.
The Guardians are back at it Saturday night at 6:10 PM ET. RHP Gavin Williams will get the start for the Guards, looking to improve his season record to 3-1.
Williams has an ERA so far this season of 2.38.
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