CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Guardians are the youngest team in baseball but there have been plenty of moments where they aren’t showing their age.
Thursday night’s come-from-behind victory that saw them rally from 2-0 and 4-2 deficits to beat the A’s 8-4 was another shining example after they scored four runs on five consecutive hits in the bottom of the eighth.
“We make contact, so you don’t have that strikeout a lot of times that stops the rally,” Francona said. “They run good enough, and they’re pretty consistent. And we go first to third, so now you have holes open for guys that makes it harder to defend. If you have holes open and guys that use the whole field, it’s got a chance to continue.”
It was the fourth time this season the Guardians scored four or more runs in the eighth inning or later this season and from the seventh inning on, Cleveland is outscoring their opponents by 31 runs.
“We’re all pushing each other, trying to energize each other,” Richie Palacios told 92.3 The Fan prior to Friday night’s game. “When we play the game with energy as we do most of the time, we have a great chance to win.
From the coaching staff to players, we’re all on the same page and I feel like that’s helped us so far and will continue to help us.”
Palacios came up with a big two-run pinch hit single in the eighth inning Thursday night that helped the Guardians rally for an 8-4 victory.
“I’m just trying to fulfil my role, whatever it is for the day, whether it’s starting or pinch hitting,” Palacios said. “Whatever it is, I’m just trying to fill my role in order to help this team win so whatever that is, whenever I get my opportunity, I’m ready.”
Palacios, who is in his third stint with the club and become a valuable utility player, is 2-4 with four RBI as a pinch hitter this season.
“He stays ready,” Francona said. “Even when he’s not playing, he’s paying attention and looking at the pitcher that’s coming in. He’s prepared. A lot of young guys you gotta go get them because they’re down there eating seeds or something. But he also can make contact. Even with that swing he has there’s not a lot of misses [which] you’d think when you look at that swing.”
Settling in – Andres Gimenez hasn’t been experimenting in the box with stances as much as he did a year ago, and from Francona’s point of view, that’s a good thing.
“He had a leg kick, [then] he didn’t have a leg kick,” Francona said. “It was very results-oriented and sometimes [you can’t be that way]. There’s times you can’t. Jose [Ramirez] the other day, he hit four balls that could’ve been 4-8 with three doubles and a triple and he ends up being O-fer. But again, it’s Jose, he knows I’m a good hitter. I don’t have to change.
“Sometimes guys reach for more. That’s when you get in trouble.”
Ole reliable – Bryan Shaw continues to be the model of consistency and reliability for the Guardians out of the bullpen.
Shaw ranks third in club history in appearances with 483 and he leads baseball with 717 games pitched since 2011.
Shaw admits he eyes not only the club record for appearances but hitting four figures in games played.
“I know what active leaders are in games pitched. I know how many guys have over 1,000 games in the big leagues. I know all of those numbers,” Shaw told 92.3 The Fan. “Most people don’t care obviously and it doesn’t matter to most guys. That’s just the goals I set for myself. Might as well set them high, set them where you want. If I fall short of 1,252 games but I still get over 1,000, 16 people have done that. Obviously, I’d like to get there but who knows, and we’ll see, but if I throw 70-plus this year and next year I think that gets the record here, and they were starters too.”
Injury updates – Right-handed starter Aaron Civale will pitch again in five days after throwing 50 pitches in two innings last night for Columbus and the hope is that they’ll be able to increase his pitch limit and he'll be back soon after.
“By his account, [he was] a little rusty,” Francona said, “but that’s why you go do this.”
Outfielder Franmil Reyes worked out Friday and the team planned to with him following the workout to map out a plan for the next 5-7 days.
Quote of the day – “You tell them they’re not available and they want to fight you,” Francona on key relievers, including closer Emmanuel Clase, willing to be available as much as possible.
Going streaking – The Guardians have taken advantage of a soft spot in their schedule having won eight of their last 10 entering play Friday night while Oakland has dropped in in a row.
