The Cleveland Guardians are known for playing small ball, advancing runners one base at a time through aggressive baserunning.
That style was so successful when they advanced to the 2024 American League Championship Series, the team’s marketing department made it the theme of this season as Guards Ball.
Cleveland, however, used the long ball en route to posting a 6-0 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Friday. The teams meet again Saturday night in the second contest of the three-game series.
Angel Martinez hit a two-run homer and Jose Ramirez and Kyle Manzardo had solo shots, giving the Guardians a 20-1 record when they go deep at least three times in a game since Stephen Vogt took over as manager in 2024.
“The way I see it is more like we go really aggressive from the get-go,” Martinez said through an interpreter. “It’s not necessarily that we smell blood, it’s just a consequence of everything we do previously. We’re able to put it all together like that.”
Despite hitting at the bottom of the order, Martinez has been a significant contributor since his recall from Triple-A Columbus on April 9. The 23-year-old center fielder is batting .325 with one homer and 11 RBIs in 25 games, making 20 starts.
Cleveland has won 20 of its last 29 games, including three straight after Gavin Williams and three relievers combined on a six-hitter against Philadelphia.
“If you’re hitting first or hitting last for us, it’s the same mindset to try to help and do the best for the team,” Martinez said. “You have to contribute and help the other guys.”
Guardians ace Tanner Bibee (3-2, 4.26 ERA) will get the start against Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez (0-0, 17.18) on Saturday.
Bibee has gone three starts without a loss, going 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA over 18 innings. The right-hander won his lone game against the Phillies, tossing seven scoreless innings on July 22, 2023.
Suarez made his season debut May 4 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, allowing seven runs in 3 2/3 innings. He spent the first five weeks of the season on the injured list with low back stiffness, and is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in two career outings against Cleveland.
The Phillies should be much fresher against Bibee than they were against Williams, given their late arrival in Northeast Ohio following a 10-inning win Thursday night in Tampa. They overcame a four-run deficit to complete a series sweep of the Rays with a 7-6 victory on Thursday.
The Phillies went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and had their six-game homer stretch end on Friday. Trea Turner and Nick Castellanos each had two hits.
“Tough travel last night,” said Turner, who has a .417 average during his eight-game hitting streak. “For sure, (Williams) made some good pitches and we swung out of the zone. We had our chances, but didn’t get the job done.”
Philadelphia has won nine of its last 12 games overall.
Designated hitter Kyle Schwarber is riding a 44-game on-base streak that is tied for the fifth longest in franchise history. He extended the streak with a sixth-inning walk off Tim Herrin.
“It’s unfortunate we couldn’t shove a couple runs across,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “We’ll get some rest and come back (on Saturday).”
–Field Level Media
