CLEVELAND, OH - For the Cleveland Guardians (14-6), it was an all-around dismantling of the Oakland Athletics (8-12) in Friday night's 10-2 win. Following a leadoff home run from Athletics third baseman Abraham Toro, the Guardians scored ten unanswered runs, including a five-run fifth inning.
Cleveland's 14-6 record is the club's best record through its first 20 games of a season since 1999, where they started 15-5 and finished the season 97-65.
After Toro's leadoff home run, Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie (2-2, 5.00 ERA) was able to rally and allow only two hits while striking out six A's hitters over five innings. It is important to note that McKenzie did have some struggles with command, walking three batters, but his ability to rally and get out of those jams unscathed.
One of the defensive gems came from Guardians converted outfielder Tyler Freeman in the top of the second, as Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler drilled a line drive into deep center field. Freeman made a lunging catch, laying out to make the snag.
Freeman said in his postgame press conference: "[Butler] smoked the ball and it just had that lucky spin so I kind of turned the wrong way at first, just kind of twisted around and kind of saw the ball beat me a little bit so I just get the jump at the end."
"[I] might have dove a little bit on purpose at the end," Freeman joked with a grin on his face.
Freeman got the offense jumpstarted with a two-run home run just over the right field wall that was measured at 89.5 MPH exit velocity. Even Guardians manager Stephen Vogt did not think it had enough on it to be a home run.
"I didn't know [it was going to be a home run]," Vogt said following the win. "I knew he had backspun it pretty well, but I don't know this field that well yet. But, just enough to get out [of the park] at home. [It was] a huge swing for us to get the lead and get [McKenzie] back and the rest of the staff just nail it down from there."
It also marked the third home run of the season by a Guardians centerfielder, matching the total from the team in all of the 2023 season.
Nonetheless, that home run got the offense on the board, and the score would remain 2-1 until the offense would have their second five-run extravaganza of the season, both coming against the Athletics and last on March 28th.
Following a single and two walks, Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan hit a two RBI double to get the action started. Guardians shortstop Andres Gimenez followed suit with a two RBI single to extend the lead to 6-1, and star third baseman capped it off with an RBI single, but was tagged out trying to extend it into a double.
Cleveland capped off the offensive explosion in the eighth inning, starting with slugger Josh Naylor continuing his early season hitting inferno with a solo home run, which extended his on-base streak to 12 games.
After a Freeman single, catcher Bo Naylor was able to get to second after Athletics outfielder Seth Brown dropped a routine flyball in left field. Guardians outfielder Estevan Florial singled home Naylor to extend the lead to 10-1.
Be Aggressive
The Guardians were able to attack the Athletics pitchers early and often, but also were locked in in their approach at the plate. Of the team's 36 at-bats on Friday night, 17 of the team's at-bats saw three pitches or less.
It has been evident that the team has been aggressive on the basepaths, but seeing the success from the plate early on, combined with the aggression in approach at the plate, it has clearly been adding pressure to opposing pitchers and defenses alike.
Stoking the flames
Guardians slugger Josh Naylor is not the only batter that has been on a hot streak as of late. Florial continued his hot streak from the Yankees series, hitting 3-4 on Friday night with a double, RBI and run scored. Friday was also his first three-hit game of his career. He has posted a 1.154 OPS in his last six games with two home runs and five RBI.
"He's really starting to find his stride," Vogt said of Florial after the game. "His swings have just been so much better. He's always had quality at-bats, even through spring and had a rough spring statistics-wise and he does [strike out] but his quality of at-bat has been really, really good the last week."
"We just couldn't be more thrilled, and to see him staying in there on the [left-handed pitcher] twice, just definitely heading in the right direction," Vogt continued. "He's been putting in a lot of work. This guy's attitude is phenomenal."
What's Next?
The Guardians will look to pick up their third straight win tomorrow against the A's at 6:05 PM at Progressive Field. It will be a battle of south paws on the mound, as LHP Logan Allen (2-0, 5.06) will start for the Guardians and LHP Alex Wood (0-1, 8.10) will start for Oakland.
