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Guarding The Corner Episode 11 – Space City Blues: James and Bryan discuss the Cleveland Guardians performance in Houston, their upcoming series with Detroit, and trivia.
Tag Archives: Houston Astros
Guardians fall to Astros, lose 2-1
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Offense was hard to come by for both teams as the Guardians and Astros combined for just three runs. Problem for Cleveland is that Houston managed to win by a 2-1 final score.
Cleveland managed just four hits and three walks in the contest. Reaching base was Amed Rosario (1-4), Jose Ramirez (1-3, BB), Josh Naylor (0-3, BB), Andres Gimenez (1-4), Ernie Clement (1-4), and Austin Hedges (0-2, BB). This simply is not good enough, especially considering the Guardians struck out 12 times in the loss.
Contrary to the loss on Tuesday, pitching was not the problem here. Cal Quantrill did more than enough to give Cleveland a chance to win only to be let down by the bats. Quantrill allowed just two runs on four hits and four walks while striking out two. Trevor Stephan and Bryan Shaw pitched two innings striking out four.
The Guardians are playing as expected currently. Cleveland is undergoing a transition period and that leads to disappointing losses such as this one and surprising wins like Monday.
The road trip continues as the Guardians travel to Detroit for a four-game series with the Tigers. It was a two game split last weekend in Cleveland between the two clubs.
Guardians lose to Astros 7-3
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The same kind of success was not there for the Cleveland Guardians Tuesday night as they lost to the Houston Astros by a score of 7-3. This comes following Monday’s comfortable 6-1 victory at Minute Maid Park.
Zach Plesac was Cleveland’s pitcher and was able to keep things close until the 5th inning. Houston would add four runs to their total as they managed to chase Plesac before he could finish the inning. It was a rough night for Plesac as the seven runs allowed were more than his two previous status combined (six). The nine hits in 4.2 innings was just two fewer than the 11 allowed over 12 innings against the White Sox and Reds. This is the long way of saying it was not his night.
The Guardians did manage to get on the board first thanks to a Jose Ramirez solo shot (surprise, surprise). Ramirez battled Framber Valdez for 11 pitches before depositing the 12th into the Crawford Boxes in left field for his 11th big fly of the season. Cleveland’s third baseman would drive in another run via a groundout in the 6th with the game already all but over.
After splitting the first two games of the series a rubber match awaits the Guardians and Astros Wednesday night. Cleveland will turn to Cal Quantrill while Houston sends Cristian Javier to the mound.
With Tuesday’s loss Cleveland is now 18-21 on the season, seven games back of the first place Minnesota Twins.
Guardians come out on top in Houston, win 6-1
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Getting a win against the Astros is not easy, especially if the game is in Houston. That is just what the Guardians did Monday night. Cleveland came into Minute Maid Park and handed the AL West leaders a 6-1 loss.
Propelling the Guardians offense was none other than Jose Ramirez. With Cleveland clinging to a 2-0 lead, it was Ramirez who doubled that with a two-run shot in the 5th. The perennial MVP candidate would finish the game 2-5 with four RBI.
Triston McKenzie was dominant on the mound, allowing just three hits while walking one over 7 innings with one run coming across to score. Nick Sandlin, Sam Hentges, and Emmanuel Clase would handle the final two frames.
This was a much needed win for the Guardina as they are coming off a 1-3 stretch against two of the worst teams in baseball (Reds, Tigers). While a series win should not be the expectation against Houston, winning one and being competitive in the other two is a realistic outcome. So far so good as one game has already gone to Cleveland’s way.
Game 2 will take place at 8:10 P.M. with Zach Plesac and Framber Valdez starting for each side.
Guarding The Corner Ep.10 – Weathering The Storm
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Guarding The Corner Episode 10 – Weathering The Storm: James and Bryan discuss the Guardians slide, previewing the series in Houston, and of course more trivia.
Cleveland manages to hold on for 5-4 win over Astros
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After losing the first two games and facing a sweep, the Cleveland Baseball Club managed to salvage a win Wednesday against the Houston Astros.
After a 9-3 drubbing Tuesday night, the Cleveland Baseball Club was staring a sweep right in the face. Cleveland and Houston traded runs back and forth from the 3rd through 6th innings. It was then that Cesar Hernandez stepped up to the plate and delivered with what ended up being a game-winning solo home run.
It was the 16th home run of the season for Hernandez, which is a single-season high for the second baseman. Hernandez would finish the game 2-4 with two runs driven in, including a RBI double in the top of the 3rd which got the scoring started.
Houston would fire back after Cleveland’s first run with solo home runs from Jose Altuvve in the 4th and Kyle Tucker in the 5th. The 6th inning set up an epic moment for Ernie Clement. Big Ern stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and drove in Oscar Mercado, Franmil Reyes, and Bobby Bradley to give Cleveland a 4-2 lead. The Astros would again answer with RBI hits from Altuve and Yuli Gurriel. This all led to the solo shot from Hernandez in the top of the 7th.
Eli Morgan was the starter for Cleveland and it was one of the better starts of his young career. Morgan allowed three runs on three hits over 3 innings while striking out five. Bryan Shaw would relieve Morgan in the 6th, allowing the game tying single from Gurriel. Phil Maton was the last Cleveland pitcher to allow a baserunner, an infield single to Myles Straw. The combo of Emmanuel Clase and James Karinchak handled the 8th and 9th, earning a hold (5) and save (11) respectively.
With the win Cleveland trails Chicago by 8.5 in the division while trailing Oakland by 5 for the second wild card spot. A trip home awaits the team as they begin a huge series with the Tampa Bay Rays Thursday.
Cleveland clobbered in Houston, lose 9-3
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The Cleveland Baseball Club were outhit by the Houston Astros 14-9 and that led to the lopsided final score of 9-3.
The Cleveland Baseball Club was on the wrong side of a lopsided loss as their postseason hopes continue to slip away. It was a 9-3 final score as the Houston Astros came away victorious with Cleveland seeing their slugging first baseman Bobby Bradley exit the game due to injury.
Triston McKenzie was not effective whatsoever as he gave up five runs on eight hits in just 4 innings. Nick Sandlin would follow as allowed three runs on two hits with two walks as he failed to get out of the 5th. Justin Garza would take the mound for the final 3.1 innings, limiting Houston to just four hits and one run scored. Considering how everything beforehand went that has to count as a win of some sort.
Cleveland did manage to score three runs in the contest, but with the game 9-0 at that point they had no impact on the final result and did little to change the projected outcome.
After losing two straight to the Astros, Cleveland is now staring a sweep right in the face. While a win Wednesday wouldn’t do a whole lot for their postseason hopes, a loss would essentially end those aspirations once the score goes final. Cleveland trails Chicago by 9.5 games in the division while they are 5.5 games behind Oakland for the second Wild Card spot.
Michael Brantley remains in Houston
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The Astros have agreed to terms on a two-year $32 million deal with the veteran outfielder.
Dr. Smooth is staying in Houston. The Astros and Michael Brantley have agreed on a deal worth $32 million over two years.
There was some belief that Brantley would join now former Astros teammate George Springer in Toronto, but that did not materialize.
Michael Brantley has been a very consistent hitter throughout his 12-year career, slashing .297/.354/.440/.794 with 303 doubles, 21 triples, 114 home runs and 640 RBI. Brantley had a career-high 22 home runs in 2019, his first season with the Astros. The 33-year old outfielder should continue being a consistent force for the Astros who are now without one of their better bats in their lineup in Springer.
With A Jimmmitude: Wednesday 9/30/20
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With A Jimmmitude post for Wednesday, September 30, 2020: Thoughts about the MLB Playoffs and the NBA Finals.
1. Home Field Advantage?
Only one home team won on Tuesday, the Tampa Bay Rays. Minnesota, Cleveland, and Oakland all lost and any sort of home field advantage is being tested after only one game. Now three teams who were the higher seed in the first round of the playoffs could be eliminated today. If home field advantage is going to be a thing in the first round of the playoffs it has to start today.
2. National League Playoffs begin
The American League got the spotlight on Tuesday, but the National League begins Wednesday. Three intriguing matchups and one that seems to be a foregone conclusion, let’s start there. The Los Angeles Dodgers are taking on the Milwaukee Brewers in a series that should be an easy win for L.A. Stranger things have happened, but a Dodgers win seems like a lock.
Now for the intriguing matchups. Reds vs. Braves, Marlins vs. Cubs, Cardinals vs. Padres. These series could really go either way, the differences between these teams do not appear to be as large as the difference between the Brewers and Dodgers. Any upset that occurs with these teams would not be surprising in the least bit. Let the chaos begin.
3. NBA Finals
Lakers and Heat, what matchup for the 2020 NBA Finals. Will LeBron James be able to win his fourth ring and build his legacy? Can the Los Angeles Lakers win another title in what would be a fitting tribute to Kobe Bryant? Can Jimmy Butler change the narrative that has surrounded him throughout his career and build a legacy of his own? Whatever happens in The Finals it is sure to be entertaining. It feels like the Lakers should win, but never count out the Heat. Miami just has that feel of a championship caliber team, but the Lakers seem to be a team of destiny.
This Is Believeland Podcast Ep. 48: Elaine Shircliff
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This Is Believeland Podcast Episode 48: Previewing the upcoming MLB Postseason with Elaine Shircliff. We discuss which teams we think will win and could go on a run.