The Cleveland Guardians lost 1-0 to the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, and both teams are tied at the top of the AL Central as a result.
Cleveland is 36-29, while the Twins are 39-32.
A Nick Gordon home run in the third inning was all the Twins needed to secure the victory.
For the Guardians, however, it was an extremely fruitful road trip that netted them seven wins in nine contests.
“Finished the roadtrip 7-2. Heading home,” the Guardians’ official Twitter account wrote this afternoon.
Finished the roadtrip 7-2.
Heading home.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/dIAewMhfxt
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) June 23, 2022
Zach Plesac was extremely impressive on the mound for the Guardians: he pitched six innings with the one run allowed, conceding three hits, two walks, and striking out six hitters.
Trevor Stephan and Enyel De Los Santos each pitched a scoreless frame.
Cleveland’s Offense Didn’t Show Up On Thursday
The problem, for Cleveland, was that the offense, who had been so hot in recent games, failed to show up on Thursday afternoon.
That was, in large part, thanks to Devin Smeltzer and the Twins’ bullpen.
The starter pitched six shutout innings with three hits and no walks.
He fanned three hitters before giving way to the bullpen.
Joe Smith, Jhoan Duran, and Caleb Thielbar completed the three remaining innings to secure the save and the win for Minnesota.
Cleveland had the tying run at the plate in the ninth inning after Andres Gimenez doubled with one out, but Ernie Clement grounded out and Steven Kwan, incredibly, struck out swinging.
The Guardians will look to return to their winning ways over the weekend at home, against the Boston Red Sox.
Cal Quantrill will start the game for the Guardians, and Nick Pivetta will toe the rubber for the visitors.
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