CLEVELAND — The Guardians are set to face off against the St. Louis Cardinals at Progressive Field on Sunday, June 29, wrapping up a three-game series. The Guardians, struggling after losing two of three games against the Toronto Blue Jays, fell to the Cardinals in the first two fixtures of this series, losing 5-0 on Friday, June 27, and 9-6 on Saturday, June 28.
In Saturday’s game, the Guardians put together a commendable fourth inning, scoring six runs to establish a 6-1 lead. However, the Cardinals fought back, scoring eight consecutive runs to secure their victory.
Pregame highlights include notable moments from the previous match where the Cardinals made strategic errors, costing them in the second inning. Guardians pitcher Logan Allen issued a walk to Pedro Pagés, followed by a single from Victor Scott II that allowed Pagés to advance to second base. Pagés attempted to reach third but was caught out by José Ramírez, thanks to an impressive throw from center fielder Lane Thomas. Shortly after, Scott attempted to steal second but was tagged out, ending the inning.
Cardinals pitcher Matthew Liberatore demonstrated resilience by escaping a bases-loaded situation in the first inning, preventing any runs from scoring. The Guardians had several opportunities but struggled to capitalize on them, particularly as José Ramírez notched his 628th career walk, pulling him into the top 10 for bases on balls in Guardians’ franchise history.
The Cardinals jumped to an early lead when Nolan Gorman hit a pivotal three-run home run off Allen in the first inning, putting them ahead 3-0. Gorman’s homer came after walks and singles from Masyn Winn and Willson Contreras.
Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. ET, and fans can look forward to an exciting finish to the series. The Guardians will be relying on their starting pitcher Logan Allen to turn the tide and inspire a comeback.
Looking ahead, the Guardians’ lineup is set to include Steven Kwan in left field and José Ramírez at third base, while the Cardinals will counter with Brendan Donovan leading off in left field. This matchup provides an opportunity for the Guardians to regroup and potentially reclaim their momentum as they strive to overcome their recent challenges.