Phillies bats quieted by Guardians in 3-1 loss

The Cleveland Guardians, and former Phillies pitcher Ben Lively, came to Citizens Bank Park to challenge the National League-leading Philadelphia Phillies. They brought with them their .598 winning percentage which stood tied atop the AL with the Baltimore Orioles. A battle of the top 2 teams, this late in the season, was sure to grab the baseball world’s attention. On this night, the baseball world, and Dave Dombrowski, saw a bad version of the Philadelphia Phillies. The Guardians were strategically aggressive and sound while the Phillies committed (officially) two errors, did not hit, and looked like a team that was just not there tonight.

Cristopher Sanchez started his outing strong enough for the home team, striking out of Steven Kwan. Angel Martinez then singled past shortstop and the blunders began. Sanchez had Martinez picked off when he threw over to Bryce Harper at first. Harper inexplicably ran him towards second base before throwing the ball with less angle and Trea Turner is not yet at the bag. After a Jose Ramirez ground out moved Martinez to third, David Fry lined a single to center, past a diving Bryson Stott, for a 1-0 Guardians lead. The Phillies nearly gave away another out the next batter when Jhonkensy Noel (or Big Christmas as Scott Franzke told us he’s called) grounded to shortstop but Trea Turner’s throw pulled Harper off the bag. After a Philadelphia challenge, the call was eventually overturned.

Lively was up next to toe the rubber for Cleveland and the first inning was a big sign of the night ahead for the Philadelphia offense. A Kyle Schwarber leadoff walk was followed by two, yes two, popouts to Big Christmas at first base and a strikeout of Alec Bohm. From there it got no better for Philly, and it wasn’t just because home plate umpire Rob Drake was awful most of the night, though that certainly did them no favors.

The Phillies had the leadoff hitter reach base each of the first five innings. It was not until the fifth inning, however, when Bryson Stott (3-4, RBI, run) led off with a home run and Kyle Schwarber walked with one out, did the Phillies had more than one baserunner in an inning. It was not until the bottom of the 7th inning that the Phillies got two hits in an inning, singles by Stott and Schwarber, Stott’s with one out and Schwarber’s with two outs. All of this added up to Lively going six innings while allowing three hits and walking two. His one lone earned run came on a Bryson Stott solo homer in the bottom of the 5th.

That type of production will not beat most teams many nights and the Guardians did not need much to win on this beautiful Friday. Cristopher Sanchez pitched well himself (6IP 8H 3ER 2BB 2K) but on this night the Guardians did just enough Guardians things to get the win.

In the fourth inning, up 1-0, Andres Gimenez led off with a bunt single towards Stott at 2nd base. After a Tyler Freeman lineout, Gimenez stole 2nd base as Sanchez stepped off but threw high to Stott. Brayan Rocchio then singled to center setting up a 1st and 3rd situation with one out for the Guardians. Naylor then dropped a beautiful safety squeeze down the first base line, Sanchez fielding and wrongly choosing to throw home.

That decision was punished after Steven Kwan flew out next, which could have potentially ended the inning. Angel Martinez followed that up with a single to left field and the Guardians had a 3-0 lead, more than enough for their bullpen. Cade Smith, Hunter Gaddis, and Emmanuel Clase allowed three hits over three innings with no walks and one strikeout to secure game one for the Cleveland Guardians.

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