Gavin Williams gave Cleveland everything a starter can give and then some on Thursday night.
The right-hander punched out 11 over seven shutout innings against the Minnesota Twins, and in the process he carved out a place in franchise history by throwing an immaculate inning. Williams needed just nine pitches to strike out Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers, and Josh Bell in the fourth inning, all swinging or looking for strike three. It was the second immaculate inning in the majors this season, after Arizona’s Michael Soroka did it back in March.
Even with Williams dealing, the Guardians walked away with a 3-1 loss in 12 innings. Cleveland’s offense never found enough life to cash in, finishing 0 for 17 with runners in scoring position. Williams ended up with a no-decision despite one of the sharpest outings of his career.
The immaculate inning put Williams in rare company. He became only the fifth pitcher in Cleveland franchise history to do it, and the first since Enyel De Los Santos on Sept. 27, 2022, in the seventh inning against the Blue Jays. The other Cleveland pitchers on that list are Justin Masterson, who did it on June 2, 2014, in the fourth inning against the Red Sox, Carlos Carrasco on July 7, 2017, in the fifth inning against the Tigers, and Zach Plesac on Sept. 18, 2020, in the second inning against the Tigers.
MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins laid out just how short that list is, noting that Williams joined “some exclusive company” with the accomplishment.
Manager Stephen Vogt, who knows the catcher’s side of that kind of moment, called it a pretty special sequence and said the pressure builds pitch by pitch as a pitcher gets closer to the feat. Vogt also pointed to the broader growth Williams has shown this season, saying that when the right-hander has command of his fastball and both breaking balls, he becomes a pitcher opponents can’t solve.
There was still one Cleveland run on the board, but it came on Patrick Bailey’s solo home run in the fifth inning, the club’s only scoring play of the night. Williams also continued a strong run of form, matching his stretch of three straight starts with at least 11 strikeouts and back-to-back outings without a walk.
The strikeout total moved Williams into the American League lead with 156 on the season.
Now the Guardians turn to a weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays, still looking for the offense to match the level their pitching keeps delivering. With the trade deadline nearing, Thursday was another reminder that Cleveland’s path keeps running through its arms.
In Other News...
This Guardians Trade Idea Feels Like Exactly What Cleveland Needs
With the trade deadline approaching, Cleveland has been linked to the kind of move that would add some real flexibility to a roster still looking for a little more punch. The front office has already signaled that it wants to improve the club, and the fact that the Guardians and Giants have dealt with each other earlier this season only adds another layer to the possibility of another match between two teams that know each other a bit better than most.
What makes this idea stand out is the blend of offense and versatility on the table. The player in question is in the middle of his best season yet, and he has given San Francisco a useful bat while covering multiple spots around the diamond, including second base, third base, shortstop, first base and left field. For a Cleveland team that could use more balance and more options, that sort of profile is exactly the kind of fit that tends to make sense right up until the moment a deadline deal either comes together or slips away. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Finally Have One Last Chance To Cash In On Bo Naylor
Bo Naylors path in Cleveland has narrowed in a hurry. The Guardians have cut back his role, brought Patrick Bailey into the picture, and made it harder to see where Naylor fits long term, even as he has kept working in Triple-A with a respectable offensive showing since the demotion.
That has made him a name worth watching as the trade deadline approaches, especially with several clubs already taking a look. Cleveland may have one last window to turn Naylor into value, and Cooper Ingles rising trade appeal only adds another layer to what could become a broader roster shuffle. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians May Have Found Another Internal Pitching Answer
The Guardians player-development machine keeps turning out arms, and the latest name to watch is a right-hander who has moved quickly from the lower levels into the upper minors. Cleveland has long leaned on its ability to grow pitching internally, and this season has only reinforced that reputation as another prospect has put himself on the radar with a strong run in the system.
After climbing from High-A to Double-A and then on to Triple-A Columbus in short order, the pitcher has paired that rise with steady production, including a 2.61 ERA in 15 starts. The bigger question now is how Cleveland chooses to use him next, since a move to the bullpen could give the club another option for the stretch run and potentially help ease pressure before the trade deadline. [Read more 🡒]