The Cleveland Guardians faced another disappointing defeat on Sunday, extending their losing streak to ten games after falling 7-2 to the Detroit Tigers in extra innings. The game was marked by a pivotal moment in the ninth inning when a wild pitch from closer Emmanuel Clase allowed Detroit’s Zach McKinstry to score from third, tying the game and forcing extra frames.
Clase’s pitch slipped between catcher Bo Naylor’s legs, leading to significant frustration for manager Stephen Vogt. He commented on the difficulty of blocking such a fast, spiked pitch, expressing disappointment in the timing of the mishap. This loss represents the Guardians’ first ten-game losing streak since 2012 and completes a series sweep by the Tigers in Cleveland, their first since April 2015.
The Guardians had an opportunity to close out the game in the ninth after Angel Martinez hit a leadoff double, but failed to capitalize, culminating in Naylor grounding out and Daniel Schneemann’s soft liner being snagged by Javier Baez to end the threat. Vogt acknowledged that situational hitting had been a specific area of struggle for the team, emphasizing the need to perform better in critical moments.
The frustration among the team is palpable. Vogt described the game as “gut-wrenching” despite what he called an “unbelievable” baseball performance from their starting pitcher, Gavin Williams, who delivered six scoreless innings with only one hit allowed, marking his sixth quality start of the season.
The Guardians had briefly appeared to be turning things around when Steven Kwan’s RBI double broke the scoreless tie in the eighth inning, supported by a defensive gem where Kwan made a leaping catch to deny a hit. However, the late-game collapse overshadowed these moments of brilliance.
Despite the series of setbacks, the Guardians look to regroup as they head into a six-game road trip, beginning with a three-game series against the Astros in Houston. The upcoming matches present a chance for the team to turn their luck around as they strive to get back on track.
Cleveland has shown flashes of potential, and with players like Kwan demonstrating both offensive and defensive skills, there’s hope for recovery in the coming games. They will aim to reverse their fortunes, beginning with their next matchup scheduled for Monday evening.