Gavin Williams turned in one of the sharpest outings of his season on Thursday afternoon, and it still wasn’t enough to get the Cleveland Guardians over the line.
The Guardians fell 3-1 to the Minnesota Twins in 12 innings at Progressive Field, a loss that split the four-game set 2-2 and left Cleveland at 54-50. They’re now 1.5 games back of the top spot in the division.
Williams was dominant from the jump. He worked seven scoreless innings, allowed only two hits - both singles - and didn’t issue a walk. He struck out 11 and lowered his ERA to 3.78, but somehow walked away without a win.
The right-hander also carved out a little piece of franchise history. In the fourth inning, Williams needed just nine pitches, all strikes, to complete the fifth immaculate inning in Guardians history. Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers and Josh Bell all went down on strikeouts as he joined Justin Masterson (2014), Carlos Carrasco (2017), Zach Plesac (2020) and Enyel De Los Santos (2022) on that list.
Cleveland’s lone run came in the fifth, when catcher Patrick Bailey launched his fifth homer of the season off Taj Bradley. Bradley was excellent in his own right, holding the Guardians to one run over seven innings.
The game flipped after Williams left. Hunter Gaddis couldn’t protect the lead in the eighth, walking two while recording just one out before Stephen Vogt went to Cade Smith for a five-out save. Smith immediately gave up a game-tying single to Alan Roden, then settled in and got the final two outs of the inning.
Smith followed with a scoreless ninth, Colin Holderman added two shutout innings, and Erik Sabrowski nearly got Cleveland through the 12th tied. But with two outs and the game hanging in the balance, he gave up back-to-back RBI singles to Trevor Larnach and Luke Keaschall, putting Minnesota ahead for good.
The Guardians had chances to answer in extras, but the bats never delivered. Cleveland finished with just three hits and went 0-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Daniel Schneemann flew out with two men on base in the bottom of the 12th to end it.
Jose Ramirez returned from the injured list on Wednesday, and Angel Martinez could be back soon as well. Next up, the Guardians head to Tampa for a three-game series against the Rays, who own the best record in the American League at 59-42.
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 🡒]