The Cleveland Guardians have watched Tanner Bibee pitch well and lose all season long. On Saturday night in Arlington, they finally gave him something to celebrate, and no one in that clubhouse was happier about it than Brayan Rocchio.
Rocchio delivered one of the biggest swings of the 6-0 shutout win over the Texas Rangers, launching a solo home run off the right field foul pole in the fifth inning to extend Cleveland’s lead to 2-0.
Mason Horodyski of WEWS caught up with Rocchio in Texas, and the shortstop revealed how the team feels about Bibee.
“Oh, amazing. He’s doing his best in the mound. He hasn’t been lucky… he’s doing his so it’s gonna be fine,” Rocchio said.
Brayan Rocchio in Texas on how it felt to help get Tanner Bibee's 1st win (via #Guardians Audio):
"Oh, amazing. He's doing his best in the mound. He hasn't been lucky… he's doing his so it's gonna be fine."#GuardsBall @WEWS— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) June 7, 2026
The 27-year-old right-hander from Mission Viejo, California threw eight scoreless innings against Texas, allowing just three hits and two walks on 87 pitches. He struck out three, leaned on his slider and sinker to generate weak contact all night, and looked like the pitcher Cleveland signed to a five-year, $48 million extension through 2029. It was the second time in his last four starts he has gone eight innings.
Bibee sits at 1-7 with a 4.09 ERA through 14 starts and 77 innings pitched this season. The record is a product of circumstances, not performance, and the Guardians have known that all along.
Rocchio, who has been the engine of the Cleveland lineup since moving to shortstop when Gabriel Arias went down in early April, is batting .283 on the season with five home runs, 29 RBI, and a .770 OPS across 205 at bats. He has scored 28 runs and added 11 stolen bases, producing at every level for a ballclub that has leaned on him heavily.
Saturday night in Arlington, Rocchio drove in a run, scored a run, and went 2-4. Then he stood in front of a microphone and reminded everyone that what matters most to this team is not individual glory. It is making sure the guy on the mound knows his teammates have his back.
Bibee has been doing his best. Brayan Rocchio made sure the world knew the Guardians never stopped believing it.
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