Latest news with #StephenVogt
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Stick to the plan': Guardians rattle off 10-2 stretch to follow 10-game losing streak
CLEVELAND — It was two weeks ago that the Guardians walked off the field against the Detroit Tigers, losers of their 10th consecutive game, the last of which was delivered in the most back-breaking fashion of them all. They were backsliding out of the playoff picture altogether, unable to gain any offensive traction — 10 losses in a row, five of them via shutout, and the sun was beginning to set on any postseason hopes. Manager Stephen Vogt maintained a level of calmness through the turbulent waters of a double-digit losing streak, insisting that the lineup was putting together quality at-bats and, with the pitching staff delivering quality outings, the tide would soon turn. On July 6, the Tigers rallied in the ninth and then put together an onslaught in the 10th to deliver a desperate Cleveland club consecutive loss No. 10. Since that day? The Guardians are an American League-best 10-2. They've averaged 7.5 runs over those 12 games. The pitching staff, which was mostly terrific even during the losing streak, is now being supported. Guardians schedule among MLB's easiest to finish 2025 With a 6-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles on July 22, which brought their post-All-Star-break record to 4-1, the Guardians were back to a .500 record at 50-50 through 100 games. The route back to an even-.500 record was rocky but, as of the end of the July 22 slate of games, the Guardians were 2.5 games out of a wild card spot despite being less than 2.5 weeks removed from that double-digit losing streak. "Obviously you want to be higher up, you want to have more wins, but given the way that these first three and a half, almost four months have gone, we have 62 games left — let's go, let's not stop," Vogt said. "Our guys have been playing great baseball for the last two weeks and, like we said, even during that 10-game stretch, we weren't playing horrible. "We got to keep it rolling." Vogt's message, while from the outside it seemed as though the ship was sinking, was essentially to stick to the plan. It bled into the clubhouse, then the dugout, then the batter's box. After a few weeks of the lineup seemingly viewing runs like pulling teeth at the dentist's office, the dam has been apparently broken and, with it, the Guardians are back in the thick of the wild card race. "Our guys are buying into the plan and they're sticking to it," Vogt said. "I think it was [Steven Kwan] telling [Nolan Jones], 'Hey, stick to the plan.' They're talking about it, they're living it. It's just been good to see." Manager Stephen Vogt guides Guardians through 10-game losing streak, followed by 10-2 stretch Lengthy losing streaks are almost inevitable for every club in every season. It's the nature of the game that features 162-game seasons. But while players know better than to panic too early, there's also a human element to it all. By the end of that 10-game skid, Cleveland was eight games below .500 and looking up at half a dozen teams in the wild card race, with the AL Central division all but wrapped up by the Tigers. Now? They have not only have as much momentum as any team in the American League but also one of the easiest remaining schedules over the final 62 games. That momentum could flip tomorrow, and the offense could again backslide into some shutouts. But after a brutal losing streak, the Guardians have climbed back into the race, and they again have their collective heads above water, which might also alter how they attack the trade deadline. For the time being, their season is about perseverance more than anything else. "Yeah, I mean, I feel like it had to roll our way after those 10 games at some point," starter Tanner Bibee said. "I feel like that was one of the toughest stretches of baseball we're been a part of. But I feel like we all knew it was going to swing back our way eventually, and we just had to be ready for it and ride it as long as we can." This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Cleveland Guardians climb back into AL wild card race with hot streak
Reuters
2 days ago
- Sport
- Reuters
Guardians, adjusting to closer's absence, face Rockies again
July 29 - The Cleveland Guardians' postseason chances took a major hit on Monday when closer Emmanuel Clase was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave, joining starting pitcher Luis Ortiz on MLB's administrative leave list amid gambling investigations. The Guardians took another step in the wrong direction later in the day, when the visiting Colorado Rockies rallied against Cade Smith in the ninth inning for an 8-6 win. The three-game series continues Tuesday when Guardians left-hander Logan Allen (6-9, 4.16 ERA) faces Rockies right-hander Tanner Gordon (2-2, 3.13). Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt chose to maintain a stiff upper lip after the gut-wrenching Monday loss that saw his newly installed closer retire a lone batter while giving up four runs. Thanks to Smith's throwing error on an attempted sacrifice bunt, only one of the runs was earned. "Definitely not a normal Cade outing," Vogt said. "He just looked like he got a little bit sped up there. He typically has a slow heartbeat pitching that spot. These things happen, but yeah, I still have full confidence in Cade and all of our guys." Perhaps no one took Clase's stunning departure harder than Smith, who filled in for the three-time former All-Star when Clase endured a rough stretch in April. "That (stinks)," Smith said of Clase's departure. "I mean, he's a part of the team. It sucks for him to be not here." Smith, a 6-foot-5, 230-pound Canadian, is now 3-for-6 in save situations this season, but he has been a seventh- and eighth-inning anchor since making the Guardians out of spring training in 2024. Over 121 games, Smith has an 8-5 record, four saves and a 2.39 ERA. "I'm going to do whatever the team asks me," Smith said. "My job is to be here to compete, to prepare, to be ready for when that bullpen phone rings. And so that doesn't change." Allen has dropped back-to-back outings, giving up seven runs on 15 hits in 11 2/3 total innings against the Athletics and the Baltimore Orioles. He has only pitched against Colorado once, when he was rocked for seven runs over 1 2/3 innings in a road loss on May 29, 2024. The Rockies are almost certain to finish with the worst record in the major leagues. They are sitting at 28-78, and they could approach the 2024 Chicago White Sox's modern-era record of 121 losses. However, in the series opener on Monday, Colorado looked nothing like its lowly mark. Tyler Freeman tied his career high with three RBIs, capped by the go-ahead single in the ninth, and rookie Warming Bernabel became the fifth player in team history to sock two homers in his first three career games. Freeman, who was acquired from Cleveland for outfielder Nolan Jones on March 22, has blossomed in a full-time role as a right fielder/designated hitter. The ex-utility man is batting .333 with 16 RBIs and nine stolen bases in his last 45 games, while Jones is 5-for-39 (.128) since July 12. "I know (Vogt) loves Tyler. Well, I second that," Colorado interim manager Warren Schaeffer said. "He's been incredible, brought a lot to our team all season. I love how he plays. You love when a guy goes out and gives it his all -- and then some -- every day." Gordon is 1-3 with a 7.36 ERA in four career interleague starts, but this will be his initial appearance against Cleveland. He threw six scoreless innings in his latest start, beating the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday after being recalled from Triple-A Albuquerque. --Field Level Media
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
What we know about Emmanuel Clase, MLB's gambling investigation and the trade deadline
CLEVELAND — For weeks, the Cleveland Guardians had fielded traded inquiries about closer Emmanuel Clase. Now, there will be no trade. Clase will not don a major-league uniform until at least September, as Major League Baseball placed him on non-disciplinary paid leave through at least Aug. 31, as the league continues a sports betting investigation that began with fellow Cleveland pitcher Luis L. Ortiz. Advertisement The development delivers a crushing blow to a Guardians team that was hanging around the periphery of the Wild Card race, but had played its best baseball of the season in recent weeks. Instead, they're without one of their top young starters and the most prolific closer in franchise history, and now they must wait to learn the fate of both pitchers. Here's what we know: On Sunday morning, as Guardians president Chris Antonetti drove back to Cleveland from Cooperstown, N.Y., where he attended the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for team broadcaster Tom Hamilton, he received a call from a league official who said Clase would be placed on leave on Monday. Clase was informed of the decision before he would have headed to the ballpark ahead of the team's series opener against the Colorado Rockies, a league source said. The Guardians were told there are no other players or team employees who are expected to be impacted. The Guardians, however, suspected that this might be coming. That did not prevent manager Stephen Vogt from turning to Clase in high-leverage situations. Clase pitched in both ends of the club's double header against the Royals in Kansas City on Saturday. He surrendered a walk-off homer to Jonathan India in the first tilt and sealed a victory in the nightcap. He was warming in the bullpen again in the ninth inning on Sunday afternoon, despite the Guardians trailing by three, though Vogt contended that was in case Cleveland evened the score. Why pitch someone who might be involved in a gambling investigation, especially since the league is already examining whether Ortiz was pre-determining the outcome of certain pitches, based on betting patterns that a betting integrity firm had flagged? ESPN reported in early July that two of Ortiz's pitches from June are in question. In both instances, Ortiz missed the strike zone with a first-pitch slider. Advertisement 'I managed each game to win the game,' Vogt said. 'We didn't know. We didn't know if or when or how or why. I was aware that it could happen. So I managed each game accordingly.' As one team source noted, prior to Saturday, Clase had logged a 1.10 ERA since May 1, so without knowing if or how he was involved, they trusted his recent track record. Both Vogt and Antonetti said Monday afternoon they have not communicated with Clase since he was placed on leave. He and Ortiz are permitted to have contact with the team, but are prohibited from visiting Progressive Field or any other Guardians complex. Ortiz has been training at a facility on the west side of Cleveland. They did speak with Guardians coaches at the ballpark at 1 p.m. on Monday, and with the players about an hour later. 'It stinks. It hurts,' Vogt said. 'It's OK to be upset. It's OK to be hurting. But we're in this together and it's just another reminder that this game is fragile, this game is special and it's a reminder that we have to do this together. We're going to get through it, but it's going to be hard.' The Guardians had expressed to teams that they preferred not to trade Clase or fellow reliever Cade Smith, since both come with years of inexpensive team control. When the team learned in recent days that Clase might be involved in the investigation, they dug even deeper into their no-trade stance, multiple league sources told The Athletic. They knew how it might look if they dealt Clase and then he, too, was placed on leave. When the league's decision became official on Monday, that meant Clase was ineligible to be traded. A host of contenders are seeking reinforcements for their bullpen ahead of Thursday's trade deadline, and Clase is as accomplished as anyone who might have been made available. The three-time All-Star led the American League in saves each of the last three years, and he finished third in the AL Cy Young Award balloting in 2024, thanks to a 0.61 ERA. Advertisement Perhaps most appealing about Clase is that he's under team control through the 2028 and at an attractive price. He's earning $4.9 million this year, $6.4 million next year and has a pair of $10 million club options for 2027 and 2028. Of course, that's also reason for the Guardians — who regularly rank toward the bottom of the league in payroll — to hang onto their all-time leader in saves. Clase boasts a 1.88 ERA across six big-league seasons. This leaves the Guardians limping toward the trade deadline. Teams were already calling about All-Star left fielder Steven Kwan, and that likely won't stop. The Guardians and Kwan have been unable to strike a long-term deal in recent years, but he is under team control for two more seasons after 2025. Lane Thomas and Paul Sewald, a couple of rentals, would be obvious trade candidates, but both are injured and not close to returning, likely ruling them out. Carlos Santana, the club's 39-year-old first baseman, has struggled so profoundly at the plate the Guardians wouldn't be able to fetch much, if anything, for him. The Guardians do have Shane Bieber making a rehab start at Double-A Akron on Tuesday night, a four-inning stint that should garner tons of attention from scouts. He has a $16 million player option for next season, or he can opt out and collect a $4 million buyout. With the market starved for quality starting pitchers, teams have been calling the Guardians about Bieber's availability, even though he has made only four starts the last 24 months. Bieber said he's too focused on his rehab to pay attention to trade chatter, though he admitted he sometimes got caught up in the rumor mill in the past. 'It's a lot of information to process,' Antonetti said. 'What we know is that two very good pitchers aren't going to be available to pitch for us in the near term. We have to assess how that impacts our thinking of things.' When asked if anyone, aside from the two pitchers, is to blame, Antonetti said, while it's 'a great question,' it'd be better to wait until the investigation is complete to answer. Advertisement 'I want to be careful that we don't get too far ahead of things and pre-judge the outcome of the investigation,' he said. The two pitchers occupied adjacent lockers in the Guardians' clubhouse in spring training and bonded over their passion for chickens and horses on their farms in the Dominican Republic. When asked if Guardians teammates can still believe in the integrity of the game after this, Vogt said: 'It makes it hard. I'm not happy. This stinks. It's a different part of our game that now we're dealing with because it's legal. You don't know what's going on. There have been a number of stories over the last year and a half related to this. Two of our guys are being investigated. And that hurts.' Rule 21d(2) in the MLB handbook states: 'Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.' Rule 21d(3) states: 'Any player, umpire or club or league official or employee who places bets with illegal book makers or agents for illegal book makers, shall be subject to such penalty as the Commissioner deems appropriate in light of the facts and circumstances of the conduct.' 'I think we do a great job of informing,' Vogt said. 'As a player, you know exactly what the parameters are.' Added Antonetti: 'I don't think it's a question of people not knowing the rules.' Still, the loss of two key pitchers leaves the Guardians in a mess. 'What's important,' Antonetti said, 'is that we understand what the reality is and figure out, 'How do we move forward from here?''
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Guardians All-Star Steven Kwan sidelined with a wrist injury, 'day-to-day' moving forward
CLEVELAND — Guardians all-star outfielder Steven Kwan is not in the lineup for the July 18 game against the Athletics at Progressive Field. Kwan is dealing with a wrist injury after playing in the Major League Baseball All-Star Game July 15 in Atlanta. "Kwani is going to be out day-to-day for right now," Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said pregame July 18. "As you all know, he is battling the wrist [injury for] the last part of the first half [of the regular season]. So, we encouraged him to go play in the all-star game. He's earned the right to go play in that all-star game knowing he received an injection on Wednesday, so it'll be day-to-day until he's back ready to play, but we knew this was coming. We encouraged him to go play in the game. "... The plan was for him to go play in the all-star game, go see our docs on Wednesday and then they would come up with [something]. We knew the injection could be a possibility. We've been talking about that for the last month while he's dealing with the wrist [injury]. So, it was just go see the docs on Wednesday, see what they say and then they did administer the injection." Kwan hit an RBI infield single in the top of the ninth inning of the all-star game off Mets closer Edwin Díaz to the tie the score 6-6. Bobby Witt Jr. of the Royals scored when Kwan slapped a soft ground ball to Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez on a 2-2 pitch with two outs. Kwan is batting .285 this season with 103 hits, six home runs, 32 RBIs, 43 runs, 20 doubles, one triple and 11 stolen bases in 92 games. Kwan, 27, is in his fourth major-league season and is a two-time all-star and three-time gold glove winner. Cleveland selected Kwan in the fifth round the 2018 MLB June Amateur Draft with the 163rd pick out of Oregon State University. Update on Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz Major League Baseball announced Guardians pitcher Luis Ortiz's non-disciplinary paid leave has been extended through Aug. 31 as it continues to investigate unusual gambling activity related to two pitches he threw earlier this season. Ortiz was placed on non-disciplinary paid leave through the All-Star break on July 3, per an agreement with the MLB Players Association. He is not permitted at team facilities while on leave, which removed him from Cleveland's 40-man roster, though he is permitted contact with the organization. "We have been informed of the extension and will continue to fully cooperate with the investigation," the Guardians said in a statement. Update on Guardians pitcher Paul Sewald The Guardians made a roster move July 18, with Paul Sewald being placed on the injured list and Nic Enright being recalled from Triple-A Columbus. "Over the weekend in Chicago [against the White Sox], he was just experiencing a little more soreness than usual and [we] weren't able to use him," Vogt said. "So, brought him back to Cleveland, got a scan and he has a moderate teres strain [in his right shoulder]. So, he is going to be shut down for a period of time. No throw. Just really bad news for Paul and for us. "… There's some damage in there that we just felt like we needed to shut him down and see what happens." Update on Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias Vogt said Guardians shortstop Gabriel Arias is back playing in games as he recovers from a left ankle sprain suffered in a June 29 game against the Cardinals. "Gabby is out on a rehab assignment with Columbus today, so that's good news," Vogt said. "He's back playing. His buildup, we will go day-by-day with that." Update on Guardians pitchers Shane Bieber and Trevor Stephan Vogt said pitchers Shane Bieber and Trevor Stephan are progressing well in their recoveries from right elbow reconstruction. "Trevor Stephan is continuing with Columbus as well," Vogt said. "... Biebs came out of his last start really good." Bieber recently struck out five in two innings and his next start will be July 22 with either the Columbus Clippers, Akron RubberDucks or Lake County Captains. "Our pitching group and our medical group are all looking at the velocities, the movements, but really more importantly it's just, 'Shane, how are you feeling? Are you coming out with soreness? Are you coming out? Is it general soreness? Like regular soreness?'" Vogt said. "Or like he experienced his last rehab stent. So, Shane felt great and that's where we're at today." Update on Guardians outfielder Lane Thomas Vogt said outfielder Lane Thomas is "doing baseball activity" as he deals with with right plantar fasciitis. "He's building back up to get ready to go out on rehab assignment," Vogt said. "He's feeling better each day. So, really good news on Lane, but he's just now getting into baseball activity." Update on Guardians prospects Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana Guardians general manager Mike Chernoff provided an update on injured Guardians prospects Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana. DeLauter is dealing with a wrist injury at Triple-A Columbus and Bazzana has been sidelined with a right oblique strain at Double-A Akron. "He did not play in the two games leading up to the [Triple-A all-star] break, rested over the past several days, got through the workout with tolerable pain yesterday, and so today he's ramping up to see if he can play and then we'll assess him and see where it goes from there," Chernoff said of DeLauter. "He had been playing through the symptoms for the past two weeks, so we thought it made most sense since he had that uptick to give it some rest and see how it goes first, see where he lands coming out of the break," Chernoff said. "Like I said, he got through the workout yesterday OK in Columbus and then we'll see how it goes today as he ramps up for the game. "… Obviously, we want him to be a healthy player, and I just feel badly for Chase. He's been through a lot this year and so to now have this issue that's been lingering a little bit, I hope we can work through it and he can remain healthy. And if not, we'll take it from there." Bazzana was activated off Akron's injured list July 18. "He had to deal with the injury setback, which it's rough for a guy who's a [No. 1 overall] pick and under the spotlight, but these things happen and so our No. 1 goal right now is just get him to a point of durability where he is fully built up and then continue the development. "He's working his tail off even while he was on rehab. Not surprising knowing the guy, but at this point we're just hoping that he could finish out the season healthy and get as much out of it as possible." 'Awesome' all-star break for Guardians manager Stephen Vogt Vogt said the all-star break was "awesome" after he was in the dugout with the American League all-stars on the staff of New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone. "Obviously, for my family and I get to go to Atlanta and experience that, for my children to experience that, it was just a dream come true. A great way to spend the all-star break and then absolutely nothing on Wednesday. And then we were back here for the workout yesterday [Thursday]. So, rested, ready to go. "… It was great to go back to Atlanta, obviously got to win a world championship there [in 2021 as a reserve catcher] and good memories with the family. So all around, just a special time in Atlanta." Vogt said his message to his players as the Guardians start of the second half of the regular season is to "keep being us." "We said it throughout the 10 days [with 10 losses in a row] and you get eye rolls and you get all these things, but we have to continue to be us, and we did," Vogt said. "And then these guys rattled off six out of seven going into the break. So, continue to be us, keep working to get better, keep pushing, taking care of the little things. When we play good defense and we pitch well, we have an opportunity to win. "I think the biggest difference was on that last road trip, we were getting the big hit in the moment we needed it and not just from the usual suspects, everyone was contributing, and I think that's what has us really excited. … Our guys are continuing to get better." Guardians add Junior Betances to coaching staff Vogt also announced an addition to the coaching staff. "We've added Junior Betances to our coaching staff," Vogt said. "Brought him up from AAA to help the hitting team since Jason Esposito left for Vanderbilt. So, Junior Betances, after 34 years in the minor leagues is going to be a major league hitting coach for the first time in his career. So, we're thrilled for Junior, thrilled for us and really believe he's going to help us become a better offense." Betances and Dan Puente are the assistant hitting coaches to Guardians hitting coach Grant Fink. "The players are ecstatic," Vogt said. "The guys who have worked with Junior over the years, he's been a huge part of a lot of our players upbringing, development and Junior's just so ecstatic to be here. He's grateful. He's honored. He's ready to do whatever we ask and just excited to see him get the opportunity to be in a big league dugout and impact our hitters on a daily basis." Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@ This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians All-Star Steven Kwan not in lineup today, injury update
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'A period of high significance': Cleveland Guardians continue winning ways over Athletics
CLEVELAND — Guardians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff are always evaluating their players and the team. So is manager Stephen Vogt. The Guardians looked like a playoff team July 18 in an 8-6 win over the Athletics before a crowd of 34,691 at Progressive Field. Johnathan Rodriguez hit a solo home run and David Fry hit a two-run home run as the Guardians won their opening game out of the all-star break with all-star Steven Kwan sidelined with a wrist injury. All-star José Ramírez continued to flash his brilliance at the plate, on the basepaths and with his glove. Angel Martínez, Brayan Rocchio and Nolan Jones delivered big hits, and Slade Cecconi was solid for eight innings on the mound. "It was fun," Fry said. "A really cool night. Scored a bunch of runs. Obviously, Slade was awesome and Acho [Rodriguez] got his first career homer." Cecconi pitched a career-high 8⅓ innings, struck out two and allowed eight hits, six earned runs and no walks. His stat line was better before the ninth, when he allowed two runs after Nick Kurtz and Brent Rooker smacked triples and Shea Langeliers hit a double. "Outstanding," Vogt said of Cecconi, who retired the first 12 batters he faced. "Unbelievable how efficient he was. Quick outs. I loved it. He didn't get his first punchout until the [seventh]. That is a beautifully pitched game using all pitches. He hung a couple of sliders. Outside of that, you can't say anything bad. He earned the ninth. "Obviously, the offense gave us some cushion. … Great job by our guys coming out hot in the second half." The Guardians entered the all-star break hot after sweeping the host Houston Astros in a three-game series July 7-9 and winning three out of four games in Chicago over the White Sox from July 11-13. The six wins in seven games followed a 10-game losing streak from June 26-July 6 during which Cleveland was shut out five times. The Guardians lost a game to the Toronto Blue Jays to start the streak that also included three losses apiece to the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers. "This is a period of high significance and importance for the team," Chernoff said before the game. "We have to see where we come out of the break. Our schedule was one of the hardest up through that point, up through that 10-game losing streak, unfortunately, and then it starts to get easier hopefully, at least in terms of the records of the teams that we play. I know our guys remain hungry and this will be a hugely important couple of weeks for us. "... It's been an emotional 2½ weeks with the ups and downs of our season. I think we're going to have to take it up to the last minute [of the trade deadline] and see where we are. It's our job to prepare on all sides of this and know every single opportunity we have to improve our team or on the flip side to take advantage of a moment if we are not in contention for a spot. "So, I'm hopeful we can pull ourselves back into closer contention. I do think there are a lot of teams that are in the mix right now in the AL, but I think our team is good enough to contend. So, the question really just comes down to how we do over the next couple of weeks and the assessment that we make as we head into the deadline." The trade deadline wasn't on Cecconi's mind as he threw 107 pitches. "I felt good [going into the ninth]," Cecconi said. "I felt like I still had some gas in the tank, some tough luck there with some balls just that close, but last game went through the eighth [in a win against the Astros], struggled a little bit, learned from it. Got through the eighth today, went into the ninth, struggled a little bit, going to learn from it, be better next time. "I've been wanting to throw a complete game my whole career. It's been something I've dreamed about doing, something I know I will do one day. Thought it was going to be today, but the lessons I learned from today are going to help me next time I get the chance. "... That parasympathetic nervous system kind of just knows you're doing something you've never done before. So, you can try to control it as much as you want, but as soon as you do it for the first time and get it over with and your body kind of knows what that feels like, it is going to be smooth sailing from then on." Cecconi used his defense behind him to navigate through his start, which did include allowing solo home runs to Rooker and Langeliers in the fifth and seventh innings, respectively, and a double to Denzel Clarke and a RBI single by Kurtz in the sixth. "Slider was coming and going," Cecconi said. "I threw a couple good ones, hung a couple. Those two homers were hung sliders in two-strike counts that need to be executed better, but curveball felt pretty good. We were kind of using a similar game plan to last time. It was funny, we got an early lead, started mixing fours and twos, getting early contact, a lot of ground balls and the game plan held pretty true to that." Rodriguez gave the Guardians a 1-0 lead with a home run off JP Sears in the second inning and Fry hit a two-run homer off Sears in a four-run third to give Cecconi a nice cushion. "J-Rod getting us on board with his first career homer, that was so cool," Vogt said. "A really cool moment for him. Obviously, with Rocchy and Angel at the top, really keeping the line moving, and Joséy being Joséy. Jonesy with a base hit. It was up and down the order. Fry hits a homer. What a great team win that was getting contributions all over and great defense." Ramírez scored twice after hitting a triple and a double. Rocchio hit two doubles, had two RBIs and scored a run and Martínez contributed an RBI single, a double and a run. "We rode the road trip offense right into tonight," Vogt said. "… It would be great to score eight runs every night, but to me it was the way we grinded out at-bats. We made Sears come into the [strike] zone. We didn't chase him. We stuck to our plan." Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@ This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Slade Cecconia, Jose Ramirez lead Guardians in second-half opener
