CLEVELAND, Ohio (92.3 The Fan) – The solar eclipse wasn’t the only show Monday afternoon in downtown Cleveland.
The Guardians followed the eclipse with a 4-0 shutout of the Chicago White Sox in their home opener at Progressive Field highlighted by Jose Ramirez’s two-run homer.
“Wow, what a day,” Guardians manager Steven Vogt said. “This is what the fans want to see. We got a win. Jose Ramirez hits a homer, starting pitcher goes into the sixth and Emmanuel Clase finishes the game… “It was just a really fun day.”
Here’s our top news, notes and quotes from the eclipse and opening day.
Eclipsed – The Guardians pushed back the start of Monday’s game to 5:10 to accommodate the solar eclipse. “It was awesome. I thought it was really cool,” Vogt said. “What blew my mind was how dark it got. Not necessarily the sun. That was pretty cool to see, but just how dark and cold it got I thought was really cool. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.” The team handed out special glasses to fans, who gathered on the upper concourse and stairwells around the ballpark to view the celestial event. “Super dope,” starter Triston McKenzie said. “I missed most of it. I was getting locked in, but I got to see the end of it, the total eclipse and when it kind of came out. So it was super cool.” Most of the Guardians players stood outside the dugout and near the infield to take in the eclipse as the sky darkened and the temperature dropped as it reached totality. “I think the kind of things that don’t happen that often, so why not be a part of it, right?” Bo Naylor said. For a few minutes nighttime fell on the sky and with it the temperature too. “It's interesting how cold it got after it,” Steven Kwan said. “I think we take for granted how powerful the sun is and how much it contributes every day. So it was cool it being three o'clock and pretty much nighttime, but it was cool to just experience with all the teammates and everything.” As incredible as the sight in the heavens was to see, playing during an eclipse would be another matter. “That would be really cool,” Kwan said. “I think maybe for the hitter wouldn't be very fun, but I'm sure the pitcher would really appreciate that.”
Home run pitch – Ramirez slugged his second home run of the season to right off former teammate and White Sox reliever Brian Shaw to double the Guardians lead, 4-0, in the bottom of the fifth with one out. It was essentially the knockout punch. “I would say so,” Kwan, who had three hits batting leadoff, said. “I mean you don't want to cash it in super early. It's still early in the game, but I mean with how our bullpen's been recently and all the weapons that we have, you can't help but feel really comfortable in that spot.” Ramirez passed Hall of Famer Al Rosen for the most homers by a third baseman in team history with his 174th blast and 100th career home run at Progressive Field.
Stix it to ‘em – McKenzie picked up his first win of the season with 5 and 2/3 shutout innings of work following a rough debut that saw him allow five runs in 3 1/3 innings at Seattle April 1. “It was huge for me to be able to go out there and put up zeros,” McKenzie said. “I could feel the energy in the stadium from not only the fans but from the guys here after having a long road trip. So to be able to go out there and put up zeros was nice.” McKenzie allowed three hits, walked four and struck out a pair before departing to a nice ovation and giving way to reliever Tim Herrin. “That just shows the progression that he's had and where he is come from and where he is headed,” Vogt said. “We're really excited about Tristan. He threw the ball well tonight.”
Painful RBI – Andres Gimenez got hit with the bases loaded by White Sox reliever Tim Hill in the bottom of the fourth to score Cleveland’s second run for a 2-0 lead but catcher Austin Hedges grounded into a double play to end the inning.
Early exit – White Sox starter Tanner Banks struck out five of the first six Guardians but left with one out in the bottom of the third after taking a line drive off the bat of catcher Austin Hedges that popped up and landed in the glove of second baseman Nicky Lopez. Banks remained in for the next two hitters before departing. Guardians shortstop Brayan Rocchio reached on a fielding error by Chicago shortstop Braden Shewmake allowing Gimenez to score for a 1-0 Cleveland advantage. It was one of three errors committed by the visitors. Steven Kwan followed by reaching on an infield single to put runners at the corners when the change was made. Reliever Dominic Leone got Jose Ramirez to hit into a double play to end the threat and inning. Chicago ended up using four relievers to close out the game.
Going streaking – Monday’s win was the fifth straight for the Guardians, eclipsing their longest win streak of 2023 of four games.
First pitch – Corey Kluber and Michael Brantley threw out the ceremonial first pitches to former teammates Carlos Carrasco and Jose Ramirez. “A lot of emotions for me personally, but at the same time, so many great years that I got to spend here,” Brantley said. “Obviously get to see a lot of familiar faces that are still here and just the great people that work at this ballpark and the fans. So anytime I get to come back here, it feels like home for me.” Kluber and Brantley were members of the Indians 2016 American League championship team.
Up next – Game two against the White Sox Tuesday at 6:10 p.m. RHP Michael Soroka (0-1, 4.91 ERA) vs. LHP Logan Allen (2-0, 2.31 ERA).