CLEVELAND, OH - While it's been a rough ride for the Cleveland Guardians (60-40) as of late, the team did what it has done best this season, avoid a four-game losing streak. The team took down the Detroit Tigers (50-52), 5-4, on Tuesday night.
For a team that has lost 14 of their last 22 games, this was a much needed win, and came in the best way possible with timely hitting and plenty of power.
Guardians superstar third baseman Jose Ramirez snapped a streak of 78 plate appearances without a home run with his 5th inning home run. Guardians outfielders Jhonkensy Noel and Steven Kwan also joined Ramirez in the power-palooza, blasting their fifth and tenth home runs on the season.
The Guardians were able to have some help on the mound from right handed pitcher Xzavion Curry, as the young hurler was able to throw 4.1 innings and only allow two runs on 62 pitches.
Once he passed the torch to the bullpen, the game was virtually sealed as the group allowed just two hits in the final 4.2 innings of the game and striking out five Tigers hitters.
“Yeah it's huge,” Kwan said about the win on Tuesday night. “I think we played Guardians baseball with a little bit of pop. [We] had some good pitching. We had some situational hitting, obviously we had some [home runs] too. It felt like a complete team win, and I feel like all pistons are firing on that one. I think it's a good way to get momentum rolling.”
In addition to getting some momentum in the lineup, the Guardians got some more breathing room in the standings with both the Royals and Twins losing on Tuesday night, extending the AL Central lead to five games, the most of any division lead in the American League.
With the deadline closing in fast on July 30th, the Guardians could find their rhythm in time to get some reinforcements in the trade market.
Coffee is for Closers
Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase continued his climb in franchise history on Tuesday night, notching his 140th save in his career, passing Bob Wickman for second-most in team history. Clase is just nine behind Cody Allen from tying the franchise record.
What’s even more impressive is how quickly he has climbed the record books, doing so in less than four seasons as the club's closer. By comparison, Allen had played seven seasons with Cleveland to amass his 149 saves and Wickman reached 139 saves in six seasons.
He anchors the bullpen,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said about Clase after the win. “He's the best coach in the league right now. He's just so consistent. He wants to pitch every day. He would pitch 162 games if we would let him. That's who he is. When we hand him the ball in the 9th [inning], we know we're in a good place. He's not perfect, but he's pretty close. He means everything for that bullpen and for our team.”
What's Next?
The Guardians will look to get their second straight win over the Tigers on Wednesday evening at 6:40 PM at Progressive Field. Right-handed pitcher Tanner Bibee (8-4, 3.58) will be on the bump for the Guardians. The Tigers will counter with rumored trade candidate right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty (7-5, 3.13).
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