The Cleveland Guardians fell to 57-59 on the season and suffered a sweep at home at the hands of the New York Mets, losing 13-6 on Thursday’s finale. It was their fifth defeat in the last six games, and the division is starting to slip away despite the positive deadline.
New starter Foster Griffin, acquired from the Washington Nationals on Monday, surrendered five runs, including two homers, in four innings of work. He conceded seven hits and walked two, striking out six. The pitching staff as a whole was a disaster, allowing 13 runs and 18 hits in the frustrating afternoon.
Heading to Chicago.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/guPM2bfHHK
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 6, 2026
The Guardians jumped to a quick 2-0 lead in the opening frame. Chase DeLauter and Jose Ramirez worked walks, and Nathaniel Lowe singled to load the bases for Angel Martinez. The outfielder came through with a two-run knock of his own against Mets ace Nolan McLean.
The Mets would fight back in the second inning. Marcus Semien hit a solo homer, his 13th of the year, against Griffin, and later in that frame, Luis Torrens flipped the score with a two-run shot of his own. It was 3-2 Mets at that time.
Mets’ rookie sensation Carson Benge hit a run-scoring triple at the top of the third, and then scored on Semien’s sac fly to make things 5-2. Then, in the fifth, Jared Young singled in Francisco Alvarez for New York’s sixth run of the game.
The Guardians cut the deficit to just one run in the bottom of the fifth, with Lowe belting a three-run homer off McLean. It was a screaming line drive to right field that showcased just how much the new acquisition can help Cleveland in the stretch run.
Nathaniel Lowe just hits, man.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/VhOyCmXANQ
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) August 6, 2026
The Guardians, instead of coming closer to tying the game, let the Mets take full control in the seventh. With two men on base, Francisco Lindor hit the dagger against the usually reliable Craig Yoho: a home run that made things 9-5.
The Mets kept pushing in the eighth inning and mercilessly attacked new pitcher Slade Cecconi. The former starter, transferred to the bullpen this week to accommodate Griffin in the rotation, allowed four runs on three hits and two walks without getting an out on Thursday. Tim Herrin and Austin Hedges finished the inning, but the game was out of hand by then.
Chase DeLauter drove in Angel Genao with a single in the ninth, but it was too little, too late. Lowe did his best to lift the offense, going 2-for-4 with a walk, a homer, a run, and three RBI, while DeLauter went 2-for-4 with a couple of runs scored and an RBI.
The Guardians will start a huge series in Chicago against the White Sox on Friday. Parker Messick will take the ball, starting at 7:40 pm ET.
NEXT: Former MLB GM Believes Guardians 'Overpaid' For New Outfielder
