CLEVELAND — The Guardians aren't far from clinching a playoff spot, but they're also hoping to stop a brief skid against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Guardians have dropped both games to the Rays in this series entering Saturday night's game at Progressive Field. Joey Cantillo will take the mound for the Guardians coming off his perfect game bid against the Chicago White Sox .
Check back here for live score updates, analysis and highlights from Saturday night's game at Progressive Field.
The Guardians got back into the win column with a 6-1 victory over the Rays Saturday night. Their magic number, dependent on what else happens around the league tonight, is now down to six, and their magic number to clinch the division is down to 11.
Andres Gimenez made a terrific catch on a line drive to end it.
Lane Thomas and Jose Ramirez just hit back-to-back home runs — Thomas hit one to the bleacher seats in left field, and Ramirez wrapped a home run just inside the right field foul pole — and the Guardians have opened up a 6-1 lead.
It's the fifth time this season the Guardians have hit back-to-back home runs.
The Guardians added on in the sixth.
After loading the bases (thanks to an intentional walk given to Jose Ramirez), the Rays brought the infield in, and Josh Naylor made them pay for it with a grounder up the middle that scored two runs and put Ramirez on third.
David Fry followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Ramirez, and the Guardians have a 4-0 lead heading to the seventh inning.
With two runners on in the fifth, Brayan Rocchio hit a ball into shallow right field. It got past Jonny DeLuca, trickling toward the wall.
That allowed Andres Gimenez to score, and Jhonkensy Noel was waived around third as well. But the relay throw home beat him there, and Noel was called out in a bang-bang play. The Guardians again challenged the call, but this time they were unsuccessful in getting it overturned.
Cleveland leads 1-0 heading to the sixth inning. Cade Smith is entering the game in place of Joey Cantillo, who tossed five scoreless innings tonight.
This game is still scoreless thanks to some terrific defense from Lane Thomas and Austin Hedges.
With Josh Lowe on second, Jose Siri lined a ball for a single into center field. Thomas fielded it and threw home, and his one-hopper of a throw just beat Lowe to the plate as Hedges made a swiping tag. The bang-bang play was originally called safe before the Guardians challenged it, and the call was overturned.
Joey Cantillo has again looked great, tossing four scoreless innings and striking out six thus far. He's allowed just two hits with zero walks.
The Rays have been equally as effective, though, with Drew Rasmussen and Tyler Alexander each throwing two scoreless innings while allowing only one combined hit.
Below is some pregame information.
The Guardians have swapped Angel Martinez and Tyler Freeman on the active roster, promoting the former and optioning the latter to Triple-A Columbus.
Freeman, often playing center field or shortstop, hit just .209 with a .305 on-base percentage (.627 OPS) in 118 games this season. His contact rate and hit tool were his calling cards to a promotion, along with his defensive flexibility, but Freeman hasn't yet put it all together at the major league level at the plate just yet.
Martinez, in his first stint in the majors earlier this season, hit .236 with a .679 OPS. He burst onto the scene but eventually cooled down before being sent back to Triple-A.
The Guardians also wanted a switch hitter available with Steven Kwan out with some back scoreness.
Guardians magic number, standings
The Guardians entered Friday with a magic number to clinch a playoff spot at seven and a magic number to win the division at 12.
The magic number will lower every time the Guardians win or every time the second-place team in those scenarios loses.
Lane Thomas heating up with Guardians
With his dad's help as a former race car driver, Lane Thomas is finding his way with the Guardians .
Sam Hentges to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery
Sam Hentges' 2024 season is finished, and his entire 2025 season is also in jeopardy .
Jose Ramirez has 30/30 season in 2024
Jose Ramirez became the first Cleveland hitter in franchise history with multiple 30/30 seasons.
MGK tossed the ceremonial first pitch, but he did so in an interesting manner that was anything but traditional .
Jhonkensy Noel's renewed approach on putting the ball in play has led to breakout 2024 season
Jhonkensy knows he has the power. It took a new focus on contact and mobility to lead to his great rookie season thus far.
Guardians name CC Sabathia to team Hall-of-Fame
CC Sabathia is now in the Guardians' Hall-of-Fame, and he offered a two-part message to Cleveland fans .
Guardians No. 1 overall draft pick Travis Bazzana meets Jose Ramirez, wants to grow the game in Australia
It all finally sank in for Travis Bazzana , the top overall draft pick in the draft, when he stepped onto the field at Progressive Field and met Jose Ramirez and others.
Major League Baseball released the 2025 schedules .
2024 National Sports Card Convention comes to Cleveland
The National Sports Card Convention was in Cleveland recently. We broke down how we'd spend $100 , ranked the most mind-blowing items we could find and listed the top collectibles for under $50 .
Today's game will be televised on Bally Sports. It'll be broadcast on the radio by WTAM (1100-AM) and WMMS (100.7-FM).
The Guardians begin an eight-game homestand Thursday at Progressive Field that will feature four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays and then the Minnesota Twins.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians vs. Tampa Bay Rays recap; Thomas, Ramirez hit back-to-back home runs
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