After a tough loss the previous night when they let a three-run lead slip away late, the Cleveland Guardians lost their second straight game, as the Cardinals beat them 5-3 in St. Louis Wednesday afternoon.
It’s the first time this season the Guardians have lost two straight games. Their record drops to 10-9, good for second in the American League Central Division. The Minnesota Twins lead the division, entering the day with an 11-7 record.
The Guardians, who went 2-4 on this six-game road trip, return to Cleveland for a homestand against the Orioles and Astros. The homestand begins Thursday night against the Orioles
Here’s how the game unfolded today.
Cardinals score again to add to lead
Nathan Church’s RBI double in the seventh pushes the Cardinals lead to 5-3.
Guardians score 2 on Bo Naylor double
The Cardinals lead is cut to 4-3 heading to the bottom of the seventh. Bo Naylor’s two-run double in the top of the inning pulled the Guardians within a run.
Cardinals scored 3 in the 6th to take lead
St. Louis scored three runs against the Cleveland bullpen to take a 4-1 lead into the seventh inning. JJ Wetherholt’s sacrifice fly produced the first run of the inning, breaking the 1-1 tie. Alec Burleson’s two-run single to center pushed the lead to 4-1.
Slade Cecconi’s day is done for Cleveland, Connor Brogdon enters
Slade Cecconi’s started lasted four innings and 87 pitches as he was lifted for Connor Brogdon in the fifth inning. Cecconi allowed five walks and three hits, while striking out four.
Guardians retired in order for the first time
The game goes to the bottom of the fifth still tied 1-1. After getting at least one hit in each of the first four innings, the Guardians were retired in order by Dustin May in the fifth.
Cardinals score in the 2nd, tie the game
The Cardinals evened the game with a run in the second inning. Nathan Church reached on a bunt single, stole second and scored on a Pedro Pagés single. They had chance to do more, loading the bases, but Slade Cecconi got out of the jam giving up just the one run.
Guardians score first
Kyle Manzardo singled home Jose Ramirez from second base with two outs in the top of the first inning to open the scoring.
Why are the Guardians and Cardinals all wearing No. 42 today
All MLB players are wearing No. 42 today in tribute to Jackie Robinson as part of the league’s annual celebration of Robinson breaking baseball’s color barrier. He first played in an MLB game on April 15, 1947 when he made his regular-season debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field.
MLB continues to commemorate the anniversary with Jackie Robinson Day, which was first celebrated on April 15, 2004. The practice of all on-field personnel — every player, manager, umpire and bat and ball boy — wearing Robinson’s No. 42 didn’t become firmly established for another five years after that.
Guardians game delayed a bit today
Cleveland’s game at St. Louis has been pushed back roughly five minutes to a 1:20 p.m. ET start time.
Where to watch the Guardians today
Today’s Guardians-Cardinals game will be televised on Guardians TV.
Guardians lineup today vs. Cardinals
Cardinals lineup today vs. Guardians
Guardians vs. Cardinals starting pitchers today
Right-hander Slade Cecconi (0-2, 5.74) gets the start for Cleveland on Wednesday.
Cecconi gave up four earned runs in 5⅓ innings in an 11-5 loss to the Atlanta Braves on Friday.
“Slade was sharp the first five, throwing the ball really well, hitting his spots, changing speeds,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said. “It just got away from him. When you are pitching from behind, you’ve got to come into the zone, and a lot of the times your stuff’s not going to play as well.”
Cecconi, 26, has a 5.79 ERA without a decision in his lone career start against St. Louis.
The Cardinals will send right-hander Dustin May (1-2, 9.45 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday. May gave up seven earned runs in an 11-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers on April 4 after starting the season by giving up six earned runs in an 11-7 setback to the Tampa Bay Rays.
On Friday however, the veteran allowed just two runs (one earned) in six innings of a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
“I was real glad he was able to feel good about his outing,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “His mix was good, and when he gets ahead, it is a different ball game.”
May, 28, is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two career appearances (one start) against the Guardians
Jose Ramirez heating up for the Guardians
Cleveland star Jose Ramirez is showing signs of getting back on track. Ramirez was hitting .151 with one home run before going deep and leading the Guardians to a 6-0 win over the Braves on Saturday.
On Tuesday, he hit a solo home run in the first inning and sparked a three-run rally in the eighth against the Cardinals.
“Jose is the best player in the game. We know that,” Vogt told Sports Illustrated. “And the base running is probably his best skill. He’s such a great hitter, but he’s … one of the best base runners in the game. And he’s smart, knows the game. It’s always thinking ahead … even defensively, he made a couple of really nice plays tonight, too.
“So … we always know he’s ready to go.”
Ramirez is 4-for-8 in the first two games in St. Louis, lifting his season batting average to .217 with three home runs and eight RBIs. He also has eight stolen bases this season, which has him in a three-way tie for the most in the majors.
American League Central Division standings
JJ Wetherholt sparks Cardinals comeback Tuesday
St. Louis Cardinals rookie second baseman JJ Wetherholt had not homered since the team’s season opener going into Tuesday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians.
The left-handed-swinging leadoff hitter went deep twice on Tuesday, including a two-run blast in the eighth that sparked a Cardinals 6-5 victory in 10 innings.
The Guardians and Cardinals will play the rubber match of their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon in St. Louis.
“Everything happened so quick,” Wetherholt said of his team’s comeback from a three-run deficit. “I was just looking to pass the stick in that spot. I got good barrels today. You are not going to be on the barrel every day, but you just have to trust that they are coming.”
The Cardinals looked cooked with two outs in the ninth inning after Masyn Winn hit a slow roller to second base with two outs. The ball, however, scooted between Juan Brito’s legs, and St. Louis’ Yohel Pozo followed with a game-tying double.
“Sometimes all it takes is an error,” Wetherholt said. “As our continuity grows, our confidence gets better and our chemistry comes out.”
Guardians vs Orioles pitching probables
The Akron Beacon Journal sports department can be contacted via email at bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians vs. Cardinals score, recap. St. Louis wins series
Reporting by Staff and wire reports, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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