The cleveland guardians faced a tough opener in their three-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals at Progressive Field on June 27th, falling 5-0. The evening belonged to Cardinals ace Sonny Gray, who delivered a performance for the ages, completely stifling the Guardians’ offense from the first pitch.
This loss pushed Cleveland back to a .500 record at 40-40. It also extended their deficit in the American League Central Division, putting them 9 1/2 games behind the leading Detroit Tigers. Coming off a series loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Guardians desperately needed a win to kick off this homestand positively, but the Cardinals, and specifically Gray, had other plans. The shutout marked a difficult start to the weekend.
Sonny Gray Delivers a Pitching Masterclass
St. Louis Cardinals starter Sonny Gray was utterly dominant, putting on a pitching clinic that left the Cleveland lineup searching for answers. Gray commanded the strike zone with precision and power, making quick work of batter after batter throughout his outing. His performance was so effective that he carried a perfect game bid deep into the contest, keeping the Guardians without a single baserunner for the majority of the game.
Through the first three innings, Gray was absolutely flawless. Nine batters up, nine batters down. He was incredibly efficient, needing just 30 pitches to navigate those initial frames while striking out five Cleveland hitters. The perfection continued into the fifth inning, building anticipation with every out.
Only One Guardians Batter Reached Base
The incredible nature of Sonny Gray’s start is best highlighted by the Guardians’ complete inability to get on base. For four and two-thirds innings, no Cleveland player reached first base via a hit, walk, or error. The perfect game bid finally came to an end with two outs in the fifth inning when Guardians left fielder Nolan Jones managed to single to left field.
Jones’s hit was the only instance all night that a Guardians batter reached base against Sonny Gray. This singular hit stands as a testament to Gray’s extraordinary control and the effectiveness of his pitches, as he completely shut down the Cleveland offense, ultimately leading to the shutout victory for the Cardinals.
Cardinals Offense Breaks Through Against Ortiz
Guardians starting pitcher Luis Ortiz took the mound looking to give his team a solid start, but the Cardinals’ bats came alive in the middle innings. After a scoreless first two frames from both sides, St. Louis broke the deadlock in the top of the third. Catcher Pedro Pages led off the inning with a solo home run to left field, putting the Cardinals up 1-0.
The third inning proved particularly challenging for Ortiz. Later in the inning, outfielder Alec Burleson added to the lead with a two-run homer, extending the advantage to 3-0. Ortiz also struggled with his defense in this inning, committing two errors, including one on a pickoff attempt. Despite this difficult stretch, Ortiz managed to settle down and navigate through seven innings, finishing his night having thrown 102 pitches with five strikeouts.
Arenado Drives in Additional Runs
The Cardinals continued to build their lead as the game progressed. In the sixth inning, Alec Burleson once again factored into the scoring, leading off with a double. He later came around to score on a two-out double to right field hit by Nolan Arenado. This hit increased the Cardinals’ lead to 4-0, further solidifying their control of the game.
Arenado wasn’t finished impacting the score. In the eighth inning, against Guardians reliever Jakob Junis, Arenado delivered another clutch hit. Following two-out walks issued by Junis, Arenado hit an RBI single to left field, driving in his second run of the night and bringing the final score to 5-0.
Jose Ramirez Sidelined by Injury
A significant factor contributing to the Guardians’ offensive struggles was the absence of their star third baseman, Jose Ramirez. Ramirez was not in the starting lineup for Friday’s game due to a right forearm bruise. The injury occurred the previous day when he was hit by a 95 mph fastball from Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Kevin Gausman during the fourth inning of Thursday’s game.
Ramirez exited that game shortly after being hit. Fortunately, X-rays taken on his forearm were negative, indicating no fracture. However, Guardians manager Stephen Vogt confirmed before Friday’s game that Ramirez was “pretty sore” and unlikely to play, even off the bench. Vogt emphasized the need for caution, stating the team hoped the absence wouldn’t be prolonged but they needed to be careful. Losing Ramirez, an All-Star caliber player who was hitting .317 with 13 homers and 38 RBIs through 77 games prior to the injury, is a major blow to the Guardians’ lineup and overall performance.
Manager Vogt Sticks With Manzardo
Despite a challenging game against the Blue Jays where he committed three errors, Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo remained in the lineup against the Cardinals, batting third. Manager Stephen Vogt addressed the decision directly, stating it was “100 percent he’s going right back out there.” Vogt explained that the preferred approach was to get Manzardo back into action immediately rather than letting him sit and dwell on the previous game’s errors.
Vogt expressed confidence in Manzardo’s overall abilities at first base, acknowledging that the errors were a tough inning but didn’t reflect his typical performance. Keeping Manzardo in a prominent spot in the lineup, hitting third, signals the team’s belief in his potential despite recent defensive struggles.
Roster Move: Sabrowski Activated
The Guardians also made a roster move before the game, activating left-handed pitcher Erik Sabrowski from the 60-day injured list. Sabrowski had been rehabbing left elbow inflammation and recently pitched a scoreless inning in Double-A Akron, demonstrating his readiness to return. To make room on the roster, right-hander Zak Kent was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. Manager Vogt confirmed that Sabrowski was at the end of his rehab and his stuff and throwing strength were trending positively. This move adds depth to the Guardians’ pitching staff.
Adding a touch of celebrity to the evening, award-winning actor J.K. Simmons threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game began. Simmons, known for his roles in films like “Whiplash” (for which he won an Academy Award in 2015), added a unique moment to the pre-game festivities.
Frequently Asked Questions
How dominant was Sonny Gray’s pitching performance against the Guardians?
Sonny Gray was exceptionally dominant, delivering a near-perfect game performance. He retired the first 14 Guardians batters he faced and allowed only one hit and one baserunner total throughout his start. Gray also struck out 11 batters, efficiently navigating the Cleveland lineup and leading the Cardinals to a 5-0 shutout victory.
What is the latest update on Jose Ramirez’s injury status?
Jose Ramirez was out of the Guardians lineup against the Cardinals due to a right forearm bruise. He sustained the injury after being hit by a pitch in the previous game. While X-rays were negative, indicating no fracture, manager Stephen Vogt stated Ramirez was sore and his return timeline is uncertain, emphasizing caution despite hoping it won’t be a prolonged absence.
How does this loss affect the Cleveland Guardians’ season record and position in the standings?
The 5-0 shutout loss dropped the Cleveland Guardians’ record to 40-40, bringing them back to exactly .500 for the season. It also widened the gap between the Guardians and the first-place Detroit Tigers in the American League Central Division, pushing Cleveland 9 1/2 games back in the standings. This loss marked a difficult start to the series against St. Louis.
Looking Ahead
The series continues between the Guardians and Cardinals, with Cleveland needing to quickly put this challenging game behind them. Facing a dominant pitching performance and struggling offensively, the team will need to regroup and find ways to generate runs while managing the absence of their key offensive leader, Jose Ramirez. The focus now shifts to the remaining games as they look to bounce back and regain ground in the AL Central race.
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