CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The Guardians were on the verge of a 3-2 win, but a disastrous ninth inning was in store for Emmanuel Clase and Cleveland’s defense.
Chicago hit back-to-back singles off Clase. Then, consecutive throwing errors by Brayan Rocchio ate up first baseman Kole Calhoun to tie the game.
“The first one was like a really slow chopper,” Rocchio said. “I feel like I was trying to get it as quick as I can, but I didn’t have much time to make a better throw. The second one I felt was a little easier grounder, but you know that’s a part of the game sometimes.”
Elvis Andrus was responsible for the other two runs as he hit an RBI single up the middle of the infield. Clase was charged with the loss and is now 1-6 on the year with a 2.84 ERA.
“I think both of those balls have to be caught,” Calhoun said. “I mean, both of those win the game. Rocchio made two really good plays and they have to be finished, so that’s on me. I was asked before the inning if they wanted me to take me out and I said ‘no,’ so that was my call to go back out there for the ninth inning. It came down to those two plays, make one and we win the game. It’s tough.”
Calhoun made his debut on Saturday for the Guardians as the team’s designated hitter and played in the field for the first time on Sunday. His last start at first base in the majors was on September 2nd, 2013.
“I actually think his actions are really good,” manager Terry Francona said. “Two balls in the dirt. I thought the way he went about it he didn’t want to let it get by him. It’s difficult I think, just from the little I know of him I really have a lot of faith in him as a baseball player. If you want to second guess, I would second guess me, not him in that situation.”
Cleveland now holds a 9-8 record in rubber matches this season, with a 6-6 record at home. The club is 46-2 when leading after the eighth inning.
The Guardians scored all their runs in the fifth inning. Gabriel Arias torched a ball 414 feet to the left-field bleachers to tie the game at two. Cleveland took the lead in the inning after Rocchio hit a double and scored from a throwing error on a Myles Straw infield single.
“There’s something about homers that even if they’re not mine I always get that excited,” Arias said. “I enjoy them just as much as if they were mine, so anytime there’s a homer, it’s a great feeling to be there.”
Xzavion Curry pitched five innings in his fourth start of the season. Curry allowed two runs on four hits, walked no batters, and had four strikeouts on 65 pitches, 45 of which were strikes. By pitching five innings, he tied the longest outing of his season and the longest start of his career.
“The first inning he got a couple balls up and paid for it,” Francona said. “But then, he really settled in and pitched well. We were able to get his pitch count up to the point where hopefully next time he can continue to grow on that, but no he did fine.”
The White Sox struck first as they scored two runs in the first inning off Curry. Elvis Andrus kicked off the game with a double. Then, Luis Robert Jr. hit a ball that was feet away from going over the left field wall. It was an RBI triple and Robert Jr. scored after Eloy Jimenez hit a sac fly to right field.
“For a starter, it’s always the toughest to kinda get out of that first inning,” Curry said. “That is one thing that I will continue to focus on and work on you know, making sure that I have cleaner first innings.”
Chicago improved to 4-2 at Progressive Field this season and won the regular season series over the Guardians 8-5. It was also the team’s first series win over an American League team since June 23rd-June 25th.
The Guardians (54-58) welcome the Blue Jays (62-50) into town next for a four-game series. This will be the first time the two teams have played one another this season. Gavin Williams (1-3, 3.38 ERA) is scheduled to open the series for the Guardians on the mound. The right-hander will make his ninth career start, first against the Blue Jays. Opposing him will be Hyun Jin Ryu (0-1, 7.20 ERA) for Toronto.
