On Friday, the Cleveland Guardians started their second half with a convincing 7-0 win at home against the San Diego Padres.
Well, the Friars returned the favor on Saturday and it was with the same final score: 7-0.
It was an ugly off night for the Guards, one in which the offense was limited to just one hit, and the pitching staff conceded 11 to the Padres.
Final. #Guardians | #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/uwMwvUBulv
— Cleveland Baseball Insider (@CBI_FanNation) July 21, 2024
Padres starter Dylan Cease was just too much to handle: he pitched seven scoreless frames with one walk and 10 strikeouts.
Even the best teams in the league have off nights every once in a while, and it was certainly one for Cleveland.
The game was actually very competitive until the fourth inning.
Guardians starter Gavin Williams battled through some fastball command issues but was able to put zeroes on the scoreboard in the first three frames.
Things fell apart in the fourth, though, as he allowed five straight Padres to get on base at one point.
Three runs scored in that inning.
The other four crossed the plate in the eighth inning, against Cleveland’s vaunted bullpen.
Spencer Howard, who was recently acquired by the team to fill one of the rotation spots, conceded four runs in two frames (only one earned, though), including a home run to David Peralta.
Despite losing, Cleveland maintained a five-game lead over the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central because the latter lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in extra innings.
The two teams will play the series finale on Sunday at Progressive Field, with right-hander Michael King of the Padres will take the hill against one of the Guardians’ most reliable starters of the year: Ben Lively.
Who will come out on top?
NEXT: Guardians Will Host Former Stars To Witness CC Sabathia's Hall of Fame Induction
