CLEVELAND, OH - The Cleveland Guardians (55-59) shut down the Toronto Blue Jays (64-51), 1-0, in a pitchers’ duel at Progressive Field. Guardians rookie starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (8-2, 2.92) picked up the win, throwing seven innings with six strikeouts and allowing just six hits on 100 pitches.
Blue Jays starter Yusei Kikuchi (9-4, 3.67) was given the loss, but had a tremendous showing (seven innings, three hits, one walk, six strikeouts, and just one earned run). He also threw just 95 pitches in the game and only allowed one hit after the third inning.
Making his Guardians debut, outfielder Ramon Laureano made the difference with his glove and bat, knocking in the game-deciding run in the third inning on an RBI double and making a stellar throw from right field to hold Blue Jays center fielder Daulton Varsho at second base.
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase notched his 30th save of the season, the sixth pitcher in Guardians history to record back-to-back 30 save seasons. Guardians manager Terry Francona also made history, as Tuesday’s win marked the 900th in the skipper’s time with the club.
Young Justice
Bibee, 24, has been one of the rookie standouts in the rotation, along with Gavin Williams and Logan Allen, throughout the 2023 season, and Tuesday night was no different, as he followed up the impressive outing from Williams (seven innings, one walk, 12 strikeouts) on Monday night.
“I know that he's a very good pitcher and I think that I'm right up there with him as well,” Bibee said after the win. “I think that seeing him succeed and being able to take down a good lineup like that, I think just gives me that much more confidence.”
Bibee is one of just seven players in MLB history to have 16 or more starts of 5 innings or more and allow 3 or fewer runs in his first 18 starts in the majors.
What’s Next?
Cleveland will send southpaw starter Logan T. Allen to the mound to face-off against Kevin Gausman for the Blue Jays. First pitch will be on the way at 7:10 PM from Progressive Field.
