CLEVELAND, OH - When the game is hanging in the balance, the two players that the Cleveland Guardians (28-17) turn to the most are superstar third baseman Jose Ramirez and lights out closer Emmanuel Clase, and Friday night, the duo came through in the team's 3-2 win over the Minnesota Twins (24-20).
With the game tied at two in the 8th inning, Ramirez crushed a 383 foot solo home run off of Twins closer Jhoan Duren (0-1, 1.13). It was the first run that Duren has allowed since September 22, 2023 against the Los Angeles Angels and the first home run that the right-hander has allowed since August 15, 2023 against the Detroit Tigers.
The home run continued the Guardians star's climb up the franchise's historical leaderboard, tying Earl Averill for the fourth most in club history with 226. After a slow start to the season, Ramirez is turning a corner over his past seven games, hitting for a .308 batting average with two home runs, seven RBI, and .938 OPS.
With the lead secured, manager Stephen Vogt turned to Clase to seal the deal yet again and, as per usual, the 26-year-old flamethrower delivered yet another save, his 13th save in 15 opportunities. Clase has allowed a single run in 23 appearances in 2024, striking out 23 batters and only issuing two walks in 22.1 innings.
The win over the Twins is the club's third in as many games against the divisional adversary this season. The Guardians owned a 7-6 record against Minnesota in 2023.
Deep Fry’d Twin-kies
Guardians utilityman David Fry has put together one of the best under-the-radar breakouts this season and continued his success on Friday night with a three-hit performance, including his second career go-ahead home run in the sixth inning.
Fry, 28, has hit safely in each of his last ten starts, hitting .389 with a 1.103 OPS. He's also crushed left-handed pitching this season with a .400 average, two home runs and a 1.320 OPS this season.
Sticks By Your Stuff
Guardians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie had yet another gem of a start, pitching 6.2 innings, allowing just two hits, including a solo home run for his lone run allowed. He also struck out five Twins hitters in the start.
“I think it's just been a trend over the last couple of starts, just being able to pound the zone for some contact,” McKenzie said following the win. “[I] got a couple of double plays early on, so just being able to make them put the ball in play and let the guys work behind me.”
“I think everybody contributed today,” McKenzie added. “Bo [Naylor] did a great job behind the plate, especially like picking that runner off back at first. I think it's a team effort today.”
McKenzie has been nothing short of sensational in his last six starts, allowing eight runs in 34.1 innings.
“I think he would tell you he wasn't sharp the first few innings but he was finding a way, three double play balls getting him out of trouble,” Vogt said of McKenzie's start on Friday night. “He made pitches when he needed to and then he locked it in through his last few innings. For Triston [McKenzie] getting [the team] to just about the 8th inning, that was an outstanding job by him today. He just continues to get better and better each time out.”
What's Next?
The Guardians will hand the ball to left-hander Logan Allen (4-2, 5.56) for the start on Saturday against the Twins. Minnesota will counter with right-hander Bailey Ober (4-1, 3.77) to try to get the team's first win in 2024 against Cleveland. First pitch at Progressive Field comes at 6:10 PM.
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