After last night’s postponed game, the Guardians faced a chilly Sunday double header against the Chicago Cubs. In game one, Slade Cecconi took the mound for Cleveland and Edward Cabrera for Chicago. Both starting pitchers gave it their all, keeping it a scoreless game into the eighth with both teams only notching one hit.
Cleveland’s hit came in the bottom of the 6th with a lead off double from CJ Kayfus.
The Guardians finally got pressure on Cabrera, taking advantage of his walks. After CJ’s lead off double, Steven Kwan hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third. Chase DeLauter worked a 2-2 count and hit into a fielder’s choice. Kayfus was thrown out at home, but CDL reached first safely. José Ramírez worked an eight pitch at bat, including a loud foul ball, before being walked. Kyle Manzardo drew a walk to load the bases and force Cabrera out of the game with 97 pitches. Bo Naylor fought, fouling off the first three pitches from relief pitcher Caleb Thielbar, taking two balls, but ultimately popping up to center leaving three runners stranded.
Slade Cecconi ended the day having given the Guardians 6.0 innings pitched of one hit, one walk baseball. Slade struck out six batters, turning things over to Tim Herrin.
Herrin bookended the inning with strikeouts, sending it to Cleveland’s 6-7-8 hitters. Daniel Schneemann grounded out to first, but Brayan Rocchio worked a 3-2 count, fouling off pitch after pitch. Thielbar’s 10th pitch of the at bat was called a strike. Rocchio challenged the pitch and was awarded first on an overturned strike. Gabriel Arias grounded into a forceout, leaving two outs for pinch hitter David Fry. Fry got into a slider sending it to foul territory where it was caught by left fielder Ian Happ to retire the side.
Connor Brogon replaced Tim Herrin in the top of the eighth, giving up a lead off walk. Matt Shaw hit a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner. Catcher Miguel Amaya singled to right, breaking up the shutout, scoring the pinch runner from second. The Guardians defense kept the Cubs from tacking on more runs with an amazing play from Gabriel Arias to Kyle Manzardo.
The Guardians turned to the top of the order, hoping to add a run of their own. Steven Kwan was hit by pitch to lead off the inning, but Chase DeLauter grounded into a double play that was confirmed after a challenge. José popped up, leaving the Cubs with a one-run lead.
Peyton Pallette pitched the ninth and once again delivered a great performance. Pallette struck out Ian Happ and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Happ went 0-for-4 on the day, striking out four times. Nico Hoerner was hit by pitch, but it didn’t mean much as Dansby Swanson grounded into a force out to retire the side.
Ultimately the Guardians succumbed to the Sunday/Double Header curse and fell to the Cubs 1-0.
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