CLEVELAND, OH - After dropping the last two series and first matchup against the Los Angeles Angels (12-21), the Cleveland Guardians (21-12) broke through with a definitive 7-1 win on Saturday evening.
Outfielder Ramon Laureano, and catchers Austin Hedges and Bo Naylor all had home runs for the Guardians, breaking through slumps of their own. Laureano had zero hits in his past 15 at-bats, Naylor was 1-12 against lefties and Hedges had gone 110 plate appearances without a home run prior to all of their home runs on Saturday.
The Guardians offense had last scored more than three runs on April 30 when they lost 10-9 in ten innings against the Atlanta Braves.
Not only did the Guardians break through at the plate, but Guardians starting pitcher Ben Lively (1-1, 2.08) continued his early season success with his first win in a quality start with Cleveland, his first quality start since July 26, 2023.
Lively, 32, allowed a single run in six innings on four hits with five strikeouts and three walks. The left-hander has four starts in 2024 for Cleveland and has yet to allow more than two runs and five hits in a start this season. He has also had much more success against left-handed hitters this season (.135) compared to the rest of his career (.287).
Trainer's Room
Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan had to exit the game in the fourth inning with left hamstring tightness. Following the game, both Kwan and Guardians manager Stephen Vogt confirmed that the tightness came from when he had made a catch along the foul line in the top of the third inning.
Vogt added that he will be evaluated tonight, as well as tomorrow morning. While the young outfielder has not been on the injured list for it at the major league level, he did say that he had problems with it in college.
"It's always concerning, especially with my history," Kwan said after the game. "It's not something to be optimistic about." Kwan has been one of the best hitters in all of baseball in 2024, batting .353 with a .407 OBP and .903 OPS this season. He ranks third in the MLB in average, trailing only Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm and Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts.
What's Next?
The Guardians face off against the Angels at Progressive Field on Sunday at 1:40 PM. Carlos Carrasco will take the mound for the Guardians, trying to rebound following his rough start against the Houston Astros where he allowed eight runs in four innings. Griffin Canning gets the nod for the Angels.
Lively, 32, secured his first win as a Cleveland Guardian.
