This weekend belonged to the Cleveland Guardians as they completed a sweep against the Oakland Athletics. Cleveland only allowed seven runs-against total, while dominating with 22 runs scored. Tyler Freeman showed up big for the team with several highlight plays including a two-run home run and a leaping catch in center field. The offense was red-hot and the pitching backed them up too. The Guardians are first in the American League Central division and lead the MLB for most wins this season.
Game 1
The scoring in the first game started almost instantly when Oakland’s Abraham Toro hit a home run on the third pitch of the inning. Triston McKenzie was the starting pitcher for Cleveland and he gave up three hits, one home run, walked three, struck out six, and finished with a 5.0 ERA. Joe Boyle was the starter for Oakland and gave up five hits and seven runs, had four walks, struck out three, and had an ERA of 7.23.
Cleveland answered back in the bottom of the second when center-fielder Tyler Freeman hit a two-run home run to put them up 2-1. Neither team had any more runs until the bottom of the fifth inning when Steven Kwan doubled on a line drive and got two RBIs. Up next was Andres Gimenez who also got two RBIs after he hit a line drive to center field. He then stole second base. The scoring didn’t stop there. Jose Ramirez hit a single to left field to send Gimenez home. Ramirez was tagged out at second, the Guardians challenged the call but it was upheld.
Tim Herron came out to pitch for Cleveland at the top of the sixth. He pitched one inning, struck out two, and had an ERA of 0.84. Tyler Beede replaced him, pitched two innings, gave up one hit, struck out two, and had an ERA of 5.23.
The Athletics changed pitchers in the bottom of the seventh and sent out Kyle Muller. He pitched two innings, gave up four hits, three runs, one home run, and had an ERA of 2.35.
Josh Naylor hit a home run in the eighth to put Cleveland up 8-1. Brother Bo Naylor got an RBI and reached second on a fielding error, now 9-1. For the Guardian’s last run, Estevan Florial singled on a ground ball sending Bo Naylor home, making it 10-1.
Scott Barlow came in to close for the Guardians in the ninth. He gave up two hits and one home run and had an ERA of 4.82. Brent Rooker was the last to score for the night after he hit a home run.
Game 2
The second game started much differently than the first. Logan Allen was the starting pitcher for Cleveland. He pitched 5.1 innings, gave up five hits, three runs, two home runs, walked three, struck out two, and had an ERA of 5.06. Starting for Oakland was Alex Wood. He pitched five innings, gave up eight hits, four runs, one home run, walked one, struck out four, and had an ERA of 7.89.
The Guardians started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning when Jose Ramirez hit a double to send home David Fry. Two batters later Ramon Laureano doubled to send Ramirez home putting Cleveland up 2-0. Oakland tied the game 2-2 in the top of the fifth when Ryan Noda, and Max Schuemann both hit home runs. Josh Naylor answered the call though and put the Guardians back up 4-2 with a two-run homer in the bottom of the same inning.
Nick Sandlin came out to pitch for Cleveland in the top of the sixth after Allen gave up a triple. Sandlin pitched 0.2 innings and had no other stats other than a 1.80 ERA. Oakland scored on a sacrifice fly getting within one run. The A’s also switched pitchers and sent out Michael Kelly. He pitched one inning, gave up one hit, struck out two, and had an ERA of 2.31. To start the seventh Cleveland sent out Scott Barlow to pitch. He pitched one inning, walked one, struck out three, and had an ERA of 4.35. Oakland replaced Kelly with Austin Adams in the bottom of the inning. He pitched 0.2 innings, gave up four hits, two runs, struck out one, and had an ERA of 2.45. After Josh Naylor and Andres Gimenez both got RBIs, the A’s sent out pitcher Dany Jimenez who had no stats other than a 3.52 ERA.
Hunter Gaddis came in for Barlow to start the eighth. He pitched one inning, walked one, and struck out two with an ERA of zero. T.J. McFarland came out to pitch for Oakland. He pitched one inning, struck out one, and had an ERA of 4.50. Emmanuel Clase came in to close the game for the Guardians. He gave up one hit, struck out two, and had an ERA of 0.90. Cleveland won 6-3.
Game 3
Tanner Bibee was the starting pitcher for Cleveland. He pitched 5.2 innings, gave up five hits, two runs, one home run, walked two, struck out eight, and had an ERA of 4.44. The starting pitcher for Oakland was Ross Stripling. He pitched five innings, gave up five hits, three runs, one home run, walked one, struck out four, and had an ERA of 5.34.
The scoring started in the second inning when Will Brennan hit a home run to put Cleveland up 1-0. They scored again when Andres Gimenez got an RBI single in the third making it 2-0. Oakland answered in the fourth with a home run from Brent Rooker to cut the Guardian’s lead in half. Gabriel Arias had an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to increase Cleveland’s lead to 3-1.
The Athletics came back within one in the sixth inning when Ramon Laureano singled to send home a run. After that, Tim Herrin replaced Bibee as Cleveland’s pitcher. He only pitched 0.2 innings and had an ERA of 0.79. Oakland sent out Mitch Spence to pitch in the bottom of the sixth. He pitched 1.1 innings, gave up one hit, two runs, struck out two, and had an ERA of 4.15.
Nick Sandlin replaced Herrin for Cleveland in the top of the seventh. He pitched 0.2 innings, gave up one hit, struck out one, and had an ERA of 1.69. T.J. McFarland replaced Spence for Oakland in the bottom of the seventh. He pitched 0.1 innings, gave up one hit, one run, walked one, and had an ERA of 5.40. Josh Naylor doubled in the bottom of the seventh to send home three runs putting Cleveland up 6-2. After McFarland intentionally walked David Fry, Dany Jimenez came in to pitch for the A’s. He pitched 1.1 innings, struck out 2, and had an ERA of 3.00
Cade Smith came out to pitch for Cleveland in the top of the eighth inning. He pitched one inning, walked one, struck out two, and had an ERA of 3.27. Emmanuel Clase then came in to close for the Guardians. He walked one, struck out one, and had an ERA of 0.82. Cleveland finishes the sweep 6-2.
The Cleveland Guardians next play on Tuesday, April 23 at 6:10 PM EST to start a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.
