CLEVELAND, Ohio — Where did all the offense go?
When the Guardians returned home Wednesday night from their six-game trip through Toronto and Washington, D.C., they did so with a 4-2 record because they outscored the opposition, 39-29.
They were especially effective against Washington, outscoring the Nationals, 26-17, while going 2-1 in three games.
The good times continued Friday night at Progressive Field in a 6-0 win over the Phillies as Kyle Manzardo, Angel Martinez and Jose Ramirez homered. Saturday and Sunday, however, Cleveland’s offense was all but silenced.
The Phillies beat the Guardians, 7-1 and 3-0. Their only run came on Carlos Santana’s sacrifice fly in the ninth inning on Saturday.
Philadelphia starters Ranger Suarez and Zack Wheeler threw a combined 14 scoreless innings against Cleveland on Saturday and Sunday. They allowed six combined hits, while walking three and striking out 13.
Outside of the offensive shutdown, another byproduct of the two losses was the waste of consecutive good starts by Tanner Bibee and Luis Ortiz. Bibee went seven innings, allowing one run with three strikeouts on Saturday before the Phillies scored six runs with two out in the eighth. On Sunday night, Ortiz allowed one run in six innings with nine strikeouts.
So when Bibee and Ortiz left their starts, Cleveland trailed 1-0 in both games. Guards Ball, however, couldn’t come to the rescue in either game.
Statistically, it was a good weekend of Cleveland’s rotation. Gavin Williams, Friday’s starter, Bibee and Ortiz combined to allow two runs in 18 innings for a 1.00 ERA. They struck out 20, walked six and allowed 14 hits.
Unfortunately, they lost the series because the offense was nowhere to be found on Saturday or Sunday night.
Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (right) congratulates right-hander Luis Ortiz (45) after the sixth inning Sunday night. Ortiz allowed just one run in six innings, but took the loss in Philadelphia’s 3-0 victory at Progressive Field.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
Trivia and breakfast
With the Brewers in town for a three-game series starting Monday night, it’s time to think outside of the box for breakfast. How about a couple of grilled brats (buns optional) with waffles and brown baked sugar beans?
Now that we’ve got breakfast out of the way, try to answer this Guardians’ trivia question: Ortiz’s eight strikeouts Sunday night gave him 31 in his first four starts at Progressive Field in a Cleveland uniform. Where does that rank among franchise pitchers? Answer below.
Next
Monday: RHP Ben Lively (2-2, 3.46) vs. RHP Freddy Peralta (4-2, 2.18) at 6:10 p.m. CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM/1100, WMMS/100.7 FM, WARF 1350 and the Guardians radio network will carry the game.
Tuesday: LHP Logan Allen (1-2, 4.33) vs. RHP Quinn Priester (1-1, 5.08) at 6:10 p.m. CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM/1100, WMMS/100.7 FM, WARF 1350 and the Guardians radio network will carry the game.
Wednesday: RHP Gavin Williams (3-2, 4.38) vs. Undecided at 1:10 p.m. CLEGuardians.TV, WTAM/1100, WMMS/100.7 FM, WARF 1350 and the Guardians radio network will carry the game.
Thursday: The Guardians have an off day.
Friday: They travel to Cincinnati to open a three-game series against the Reds at 6:40 p.m. The Reds are managed by former Guardians manager Terry Francona.
Trivia answer
Ortiz’s 31 strikeouts in his first four home starts in a Cleveland uniform rank sixth in franchise history. He trails:
Chuck Finley (32 in 2000).Danny Salazar (33 in 2013).Stan Williams (36 in 1967).Herb Score (43 in 1955).Bob Feller (52 in 1936).