The Cleveland Guardians’ weekend didn’t get off to a terribly promising start.
They were rained out on Friday and lost Saturday’s doubleheader against the New York Yankees.
However, like good teams do, they have learned how to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and keep going with their minds on getting another win.
They took the series finale at home against the Yankees and also won Monday’s matinee against the Boston Red Sox.
They blanked the Sox, 6-0, at Fenway Park thanks to a brilliant start by Xzavion Curry and some timely hitting.
We must say, in addition, that manager Stephen Vogt had direct responsibility in the last two wins.
His pinch-hit decisions have been magnificent and have yielded go-ahead home runs in consecutive games.
“Most recent Guardians pinch-hit, go-ahead home runs: 1. WILL BRENNAN, 4/15/2024 at BOS; 2. ESTEVAN FLORIAL, 4/14/2024 vs. NYY; 3. Jason Giambi, 9/24/2013 vs. CHW,” Logan Potosky tweeted.
Most recent Guardians pinch-hit, go-ahead home runs:
1. WILL BRENNAN, 4/15/2024 at BOS
2. ESTEVAN FLORIAL, 4/14/2024 vs. NYY
3. Jason Giambi, 9/24/2013 vs. CHW
(via @Stathead)#ForTheLand | @CleGuardians pic.twitter.com/nGqWBVjs0W
— Logan Potosky (@LoganPotosky) April 15, 2024
On Sunday, former Yankee Estevan Florial appeared as a pinch hitter and turned a 4-4 tie into a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the eighth.
Emmanuel Clase would blow the one-run lead in the ninth, but the Guards would hold on to win the game an inning later.
On Monday, Will Brennan went to bat for Tyler Freeman at the top of the seventh with a man on base.
He went yard against Greg Weissert and started building a lead that Cleveland would not surrender.
Vogt appears to be a great reader of games and knows what he has available every time.
He has the Guards at the top spot of the AL Central with a rock-solid 11-5 record.
Not too shabby for the first-year manager.
NEXT: Xzavion Curry Reacts After Masterful Start In Boston
