CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) - The Arizona Diamondbacks came into Progressive Field ready to play Guardians ball, but better. The defending National League Champs leave Cleveland handing the Guardians three losses and their first series sweep of the season.
Wednesday was marked as a traditional doubleheader following Tuesday’s cancelation due to inclement weather. Arizona, already one up on Cleveland, came into Progressive Field ready to play, ready to hit, and ready to win.
GAME ONE
Ben Lively, a constant for the Guardians starting rotation, shouldered only his second loss of the season at home. Lively allowed four runs on four hits (2HR), walking an uncanny four batters in five innings of work.
“Ben struggled with his command today. Had bad counts, some walks, which is uncharacteristic of him,” said Guardians manager Stephen Vogt. He just had a hard time getting ahead and staying ahead and they took advantage of him.”
For Cleveland, runs started in the bottom of the fifth with a Josh Naylor solo shot off of Brandon Pfaadt (6.1IP,4H,2ER,6SO). Bryan Rocchio cut the deficit to 4-2 later in the fifth with a RBI double to right. Jose Ramirez then extended his on-base streak to 16 games, cutting the D-backs lead to 5-3 with an RBI-single in the bottom of the eighth.
Anthony Gose came out of the pen in the eighth for the Guardians, his first time on the mound for Cleveland since July 2, 2022. Gose underwent Tommy John surgery at the end of the ‘22 season, resigning a two-year minor-league deal to continue rehabbing in the organization. The southpaw was a victim to Arizona’s bats, giving up a two run home run in the top of the ninth that ended the Diamondbacks' runs at seven.
Guardians worked at the plate through all nine innings, getting themselves into situations to tie or take the lead multiple times, but ultimately came up short 7-3.
A career high for Gimenez- In the first game of the pair, Andres Gimenez extended his career-high hit streak to 11 games in a row. “He’s trying to impact the ball, he’s trying to hit the ball hard,” Said Vogt. “Gimenez is such a good contact hitter and he’s able to find the barrel. But when he’s at his best he’s driving the ball all over the field.” His performance at the plate also marked his 30th multi-hot game of the season, accomplishing the stat late in the 9th with an infield hit. The streak was cut short in the second game of the double-header, going 0-4 at the plate.
GAME TWO
Guardians looked to turn the tables on the D-backs and avoid a series sweep with Carlos Carrasco on the mound to start game two.
Arizona had a different plan and it started with Josh Bell. Former Clevelander hit two out on Cookie, his sixth multi-homer game of the season. “He’s hot, but those two pitches that I threw were in a bad location,” Carrasco said. Carrasco left the field in 4.1 innings of work, giving up four earned runs on five hits.
Nick Sandlin came in for the Guardians in the seventh, giving up a solo shot, the final run across the plate for Arizona.
Jose Ramierz and David Fry both hit solo homers, but besides Angel Martinez’s sacrifice fly, the Guardians were unable to produce much more at the plate, falling 5-3.
“It’s been a tough little four-day stretch for us,” Vogt said. “I like the way we’re coming out and getting after it, but we have to clean up some little things and get back on track.”
Cleveland hits the road with five-straight losses, going 2-5 during the seven games played during the home stand.
Up Next - The Guardians get Thursday off before heading to Minnesota to start a four game set with the Twins on Friday. The Guardians start the series with another double-header. The first on Friday being a makeup game from April 7, followed by the originally scheduled game. The Twins sit 3.5 games back from the Guardians in the AL Central.
Up Next; Guardians to the mound - With two games on Friday, Stephen Vogt announced that Alex Cobb will start game two of the doubleheader. Cobb made his first rehab start with the Guardians organization down in Triple-A Columbus on Saturday night, striking out five while allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks in 4.2 innings of work. Saturday night, Gavin Williams is slated on the mound for the third game of the series. Tanner Bibee is still on track to start for the Guardians on Sunday, pending how he looks in his scheduled bullpen tomorrow. “We have every intensive purpose of him making a start.” Said Vogt. “He just needs to check the boxes before we can make that decision.”
