by The Cleveland Guardians’ struggle to hit with runners on base continued in their 3-2 loss to the New York Yankees on Tuesday night. Cleveland put men on base every inning but the first and was shut out after the third inning.
With the loss, the Guardians now hold a record of 37-32, losers of five of their last six ballgames. As of the loss, Cleveland sits a game and a half in front of the Chicago White Sox for the division lead, with the White Sox currently trailing the Atlanta Braves.
The scoring kicked off with a two-run 443-foot moonshot off the bat of New York outfielder Spencer Jones, the first home run of his career.
Those would be the only runs the Yankees were able to get off Cleveland’s right-handed starter, Slade Cecconi. Cecconi dazzled throughout five innings of work, allowing just the two runs and two walks, striking out seven and giving up five hits.
In the bottom of the third inning, Jose Ramirez singled and stole a base with two outs, setting up rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter for a chance to pick up his first RBI in this series. DeLauter followed suit and cut the lead in half with a single.
Angel Martinez hit for his third RBI of the week later in the inning, reaching on an infield single. DeLauter would score on the play after he moved to third after the previous two batters were walked and hit.
But it was Jazz Chisholm Jr. saving the day for New York once again, in the top of the eighth inning. His 360-foot solo home run, Chisholm Jr.’s ninth of the season, put the Yankees up 3-2, and they would not look back.
The bottom frame of the eighth saw Cleveland put two base runners on after Daniel Schneeman and Brayan Rocchio singled and walked, respectively.
All momentum for Cleveland was stymied when Yankees manager Aaron Boone made the move to put in Fernando Cruz, who induced two quick outs.
Cruz stuck around for the bottom of the ninth, and after he walked DeLauter to start the inning, he struck out three consecutive batters to earn a five-out save.
The series will conclude tomorrow at 1:10 p.m. with both teams sending out red-hot left-handed starting pitchers.
On the bump for Cleveland will be Parker Messick, who has dominated the competition so far this season, pitching to a 2.40 ERA and striking out 78 batters.
Opposite him will be the former Cy Young Award winner Carlos Rodon, who has made a career out of pitching at his very best against Cleveland. Rodon’s last start came against the Guardians on June 4th, in which he struck out seven and gave up just one run in a winning decision.
