The Cleveland Guardians really needed this game. While their pennant hopes remain, winning four out of the next five games is quite a challenge. Fortunately, the next three games will be played in Cleveland.
To have a chance at even one win, let alone four, the Guardians must improve on their performance from Game 2 of the ALCS. The New York Yankees took advantage of their mistakes, which is likely a key factor in the Guardians being down 2-0.
That said, here’s who to blame in the Guardians second straight loss in the ALCS.
Will Brennan leads the litany of Guardians errors
Will Brennan wasn’t the sole reason for the Guardians’ loss, but he certainly aimed to make a significant impact. He mishandled a ball while trying to field a hit to right field, allowing the Yankees to score their second run. Later, in the bottom of the eighth, he dropped a routine fly ball, which resulted in a base runner for New York.
In the first inning, an infield error by Brayan Rocchio allowed Aaron Judge to reach base and scored the game’s first run. Then, in the eighth inning, a pitch clock violation resulted in a walk for Alex Verdugo, moving Anthony Volpe to second base.
At this stage of the season, such errors are unacceptable. The Guardians won’t win this series, or even a game, if they keep making these basic mistakes.
Lack of timely hits stalls Guardians offense
Cleveland faced a significant challenge in their loss on Tuesday, as they struggled to secure hits when it mattered most, leaving 11 runners stranded on base. From the second to the fourth innings, the Guardians managed four hits but failed to score any runs.
It wasn’t until the fifth inning that they made a push, closing the gap to just one run. Aside from that rally and José Ramírez’s solo homer in the ninth, the Guardians were unable to put runners in scoring position or take advantage of those opportunities. This kind of performance simply isn’t sufficient.
Bullpen struggles against Yankees in Game 2
The Guardians’ bullpen struggled significantly in the game. After Stephen Vogt chose to intentionally walk Juan Soto and pulled Tanner Bibee just one out into the second inning, the relief pitchers couldn’t stem the tide.
While some errors contributed to their woes, the five strikeouts, two walks, and six hits allowed after Bibee’s exit were far from acceptable. The team used seven pitchers throughout the game, which isn’t ideal.
When a team’s ace is removed so early, it’s crucial for the relievers to minimize the damage, but the Guardians fell short. Despite holding the Yankees to just three runs in the first five innings, the pressure was immense on the bullpen due to Bibee’s early exit.
Cleveland’s best hope now is to take a day off to rest and prepare for three consecutive home games. This could be a pivotal moment in the ALCS for the Guardians, but they need to improve their performance to avoid an early exit.
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