Stephen Vogt didn’t hide how much Sunday’s comeback meant.
After the Guardians erased a three-run deficit with a five-run eighth inning to beat the Mariners, Vogt said the win stood out more than any other this season. Cleveland had been slogging through one of its toughest offensive stretches, and the timing of the rally only added to the weight of it after Jose Ramirez, Angel Martinez and Chase DeLauter all went down with injuries in the same game earlier this month.
“I think today was as big a win as we’ve had all year,” Vogt said.
That’s not the kind of statement a manager throws around lightly, but the numbers help explain why he felt that way. Coming into Sunday, Cleveland was 2-33 when trailing after seven innings, so this was a rare late comeback for a team that has mostly been unable to dig out of those spots. Against Seattle, though, the Guardians flipped the script.
Vogt has spent much of the season talking about the team’s depth and toughness, and Sunday gave him a fresh example to point to. With DeLauter returning from the injured list, the comeback had a built-in headline, and Vogt has repeatedly credited rookies and bench players for helping the club keep moving. Daniel Schneemann, Cooper Ingle and Kahlil Watson have all chipped in recently, and the win was another reminder that Cleveland has gotten production from all over the roster.
For Vogt, the larger value of the victory may be what it can mean going forward. If the Guardians can carry even part of that energy into the next few weeks, they’ll head toward the trade deadline and the stretch run with a little more momentum behind them.
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Austin Hedges Had A Heated Message For Josh Naylor In Reunion
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The matchup also served as a reminder of how quickly old connections can turn sharp when emotions run hot. Cleveland heads into its next series against the Texas Rangers with some momentum, but the Hedges-Naylor reunion added a jolt of drama that lingered well beyond the final inning. [Read more 🡒]
Guardians Face A Deadline Test That Will Define This Contender
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Chase DeLauter Just Gave Guardians Fans The Jolt They Needed
Chase DeLauters return from the injured list gave the Guardians a timely spark Friday night, and it came in a game Cleveland badly needed. In a 5-4 win over the Mariners, DeLauter delivered key hits and helped steady an offense that had been searching for a lift, turning a tense night into a series-clinching victory.
The biggest swing came late, when DeLauter put together the kind of at-bat that can change the mood around a clubhouse in a hurry. His two-run ground ball tied the game and opened the door for Cleveland to grab the lead for good, a result that carried extra weight as the Guardians picked up their first series win since losing Jose Ramirez. [Read more 🡒]