Tanner Bibee throws season-high 12 strikeouts in the Guardians’ 8-0 shutout win over the Mariners

After dropping a season-high-tying three games, the Guardians got right back on track Wednesday night at Progressive Field, shutting out the Mariners 8-0 and tying the series. The win marked the club’s 8th shutout victory of the year, and the first shutout since June 8th at Miami.

Cleveland now holds the best home record in the American League at 22-9, and the team’s best record through 31 home games since 1996, where they also went 22-9.

Tanner Bibee was lights out, striking out 12 batters over 6 innings while only giving up three hits and one walk.

“Big time pitchers step up when the pen is light, and that’s exactly what Tanner did tonight,” manager Stephen Vogt said of Bibee. “He gave us six solid innings and allowed us to not have to stretch the pen even thinner.”

The righty had plenty of run support from the lineup as the offense fired on all cylinders. The team strung together nine hits with a combined 3 stolen bases and 3 home runs to help bring in 8 runs.

Steven Kwan’s lead off walk in the first extended his on base streak to 24 games and his 2 run homer in the second extended his hit streak to 13 games. Kwan leads the league with a .510 batting average since May 31, with 22 multi-hit games on the year. He is the first MLB player to hit .397 or better in their first 45 games since Manny Ramirez for Boston in 2001.

But when you ask him if he’s a power hitter, his immediate answer is no.

“I’m not even thinking about that. They were good at-bats.
Just trying to stick to a plan; but those are beyond what I’m thinking of.” Kwan said, when asked about his current on base and hitting streak.

Josh Naylor also shined behind the plate, bringing in four of the eight runs scored by the Guardians, three of which came from two home runs, marking his 4th career multi-home run game, and his second of the season.

As much fun as it was for the club to watch Bibee punch out twelve batters, the pitcher felt the same watching his teammate’s offensive efforts.

“It’s super fun,” Bibee said. “A lot of these guys are just building off their solid years last year and catapulting it. The culture of us wanting to win and their work ethic is meshing into something special.”

The shutout loss for Seattle is only the second loss in ten games for the club. Manager Scott Servais and short stop J.P. Crawford were both ejected in the fifth by Doug Eddings after Crawford was called out on strikes.

The Guardians are 3-2 against the Mariners this season entering tomorrow afternoon’s matinee finale.