CLEVELAND — After an aggressive approach to the MLB trade deadline, the Guardians began a three-game interleague series with a 6-2 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Progressive Field.
With less than eight weeks left in the regular season, the Guardians are looking to three-peat as American League Central Division champions. The second-place Cleveland (57-57) was three games behind the Chicago White Sox (59-53) in the division standings.
Two of the players the Guardians recently acquired, Jo Adell and Nathaniel Lowe, debuted with Cleveland on Aug. 4. Adell started in right field, batted second and provided a rare offensive bright spot for the Guardians as they faced the Mets (48-66). Lowe entered the game as a pinch-hitter.
Here is how Guardians versus Mets unfolded through our updates:
Guardians lose to Mets 6-2
With one out, Jo Adell drew a walk off Mets relief pitcher Kodai Senga, but Chase DeLauter and Nathaniel Lowe flew out to left field to end the game.
To recap their debuts, Adell went 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored, and Lowe went 0-for-2.
Overall, though, the Guardians struggled. They went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.
Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea earned the win, improving to 3-5. Guardians starting pitcher Joey Cantillo took the loss, dropping to 8-7.
Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan produces another stellar defensive play, this time in ninth inning
With Luis Torrens on first base, A.J. Ewing flew out to center fielder Steven Kwan in the top of the ninth inning. Then Kwan threw out Torrens as he tried to advance to second base.
The double play received an applause from Guardians relief pitcher Tim Herrin, who induced Francisco Lindor to fly out to left field for the third out.
The Guardians trailed the Mets 6-2 entering the bottom of the ninth inning.
Kwan has 10 outfield assists this season.
Guardians losing 6-2 to Mets entering ninth inning
The Guardians can’t put it together on offense.
After Austin Hedges drew a one-out walk off Mets reliever Nate Lavender in the bottom of the eighth inning, Brayan Rocchio grounded into a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Carson Benge hits solo home run to give Mets 6-2 lead in eighth inning
On a 3-1 pitch from Guardians reliever Slade Cecconi, Carson Benge hammered a solo home run 451 feet to center field, elevating the Mets to a 6-2 lead in the eighth inning.
Benge’s 12th homer this season had an exit velocity of 108 mph.
In the same inning, Tim Herrin relieved Cecconi and got the final out. In 2⅔ innings, Cecconi allowed two hits, one run and struck out four. He threw 43 pitches, including 30 for strikes.
Guardians continue to squander chances to rally and trail Mets 5-2 entering the eighth inning
With runners on first and second base and no outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, recent trade acquisition Nathaniel Lowe made his Guardians debut by pinch-hitting for Rhys Hoskins. Lowe lined out to shortstop. Angel Martinez then lined out to left field.
Then rookie Travis Bazzana struck out looking against Mets reliever Nate Lavender to end the inning.
Earlier in the inning, Jo Adell reached safely on a throwing error, and Chase DeLauter drew a walk against Mets relief pitcher Daniel Duarte.
But they were stranded, and the Guardians left 10 runners on base through seven innings.
Guardians summon Slade Cecconi from bullpen to relieve Joey Cantillo
Well, it didn’t take long for the Guardians to use Slade Cecconi in his new role out of the bullpen. Cleveland removed Cecconi from its starting rotation and made him a reliever because it traded for All-Star starter Foster Griffin on Aug. 3. Cecconi had previously been a relief pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks, most recently in 2024.
In the sixth inning, Cecconi entered the game against the Mets, replacing Joey Cantillo. In five innings of work, Cantillo allowed five runs (two earned) and seven hits, walked two and struck out five. He threw 81 pitches, including 49 for strikes.
Cecconi allowed one hit and no runs in his first inning of relief duty for the Guardians.
Guardians trail Mets 5-2 after Travis Bazzana’s RBI single in fifth inning
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Travis Bazzana grounded an RBI single up the middle, scoring fellow rookie Chase DeLauter and slicing the Mets’ advantage to 5-2.
Then with runners on first and third base, Gabriel Arias struck out swinging against Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea to end the inning.
New York Mets extend lead to 5-1 vs. Guardians in fourth inning
Marcus Semien led off the top of the fourth inning by drawing a walk against Guardians starting pitcher Joey Cantillo. Later, with one out, Luis Torrens hit an RBI single to drive Semien home and boost the Mets to a 5-1 lead.
Guardians trim Mets’ lead to 4-1 in third inning
Jo Adell led off the bottom of the third inning with a double off Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea.
Later, Adell scored Cleveland’s first run in his Guardians debut when Angel Martinez doubled with one out.
The Guardians trimmed the Mets’ advantage to 4-1. But the Guardians left runners on second and third base when Travis Bazzana struck out and Gabriel Arias popped out to shortstop Francisco Lindor, formerly of Cleveland.
Guardians face 4-0 deficit after Mets’ Bo Bichette homers in third inning
Bo Bichette hit a solo home run to left-center field on Guardians starter Joey Cantillo’s first pitch of the third inning. Bichette’s 11th homer this season traveled 422 feet and had an exit velocity of 108 mph. The Mets went ahead 4-0.
Brayan Rocchio thrown out at third base, ending Guardians’ threat vs. Mets in second inning
After Brayan Rocchio walked against Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea with two outs in the second inning, Steven Kwan singled to right field.
Yet, Rocchio was thrown out by Mets right fielder Carson Benge while trying to advance to third base, resulting in the end of Cleveland’s short-lived threat.
Luis Torrens hits three-run home run to give Mets 3-0 lead vs. Guardians
With two outs in the second inning, Luis Torrens hit a 3-1 pitch from Guardians starter Joey Cantillo 375 feet to right-center field for a three-run home run. Torrens’ third homer of the season had an exit velocity of 100 mph and gave the Mets a 3-0 lead.
Earlier in the inning, Marcus Semien reached safely on a throwing error by third baseman Gabriel Arias, and Cantillo walked Jared Young. Then Torrens, the No. 9 hitter in New York’s lineup, delivered a homer.
Guardians fail to score with bases loaded and no outs in first inning vs. Mets
The Guardians loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first inning when Steven Kwan was hit by a pitch, Jo Adell singled to left field and Chase DeLauter drew a walk against Mets starting pitcher Sean Manaea.
However, the Guardians squandered the golden opportunity. Rhys Hoskins and Angel Martinez struck out for the first and second outs, and Travis Bazzana grounded out to end the inning.
Steven Kwan makes highlight catch to start Guardians vs. Mets series
On the second pitch of the game, Mets leadoff hitter A.J. Ewing hit a line drive to center field off Guardians starting pitcher Joey Cantillo.
But Steven Kwan sprinted to the warning track and made a backhanded catch to record the out.
Cantillo allowed a hit but struck out two, escaping the first inning unscathed.
Below is some pregame information.
When do the Guardians play today?
First pitch is slated for 6:40 p.m. at Progressive Field.
Guardians vs. Mets starting pitchers
The left-handed Joey Cantillo (8-6, 3.88 ERA) is set to start for the Guardians opposite New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea (2-5, 4.42 ERA).
Guardians lineup today vs. Mets
The Guardians’ lineup on Aug. 4 is as follows:
Mets lineup today vs. Guardians
The Mets’ lineup on Aug. 4 is as follows:
Guardians send Franco Aleman to Triple-A Columbus
To make room on the 26-man roster for recently acquired starting pitcher Foster Griffin, the Guardians optioned right-handed relief pitcher Franco Aleman to Triple-A Columbus.
What moves did Cleveland Guardians make before MLB trade deadline?
Here is a recap of the trades the Guardians executed shortly before the trade deadline expired at 6 p.m. Aug. 3:
Where to watch Guardians game tonight on TV
The Aug. 4 game between the Guardians and Mets will be televised locally by WKYC (Channel 3) and Guardians TV.
How can I listen to Guardians vs. Mets on radio?
The local radio broadcast of Guardians vs. Mets can be heard on WTAM (1100-AM), WMMS (100.7-FM) and WARF (1350-AM, Spanish broadcast).
American League Central Division standings
These were the American League Central Division standings entering games played on Aug. 4:
Who do the Guardians play next?
The Guardians are slated to host the Mets two more times Aug. 5-6 at Progressive Field. Then the Guardians are scheduled to visit the Chicago White Sox from Aug. 7-9 and the Detroit Tigers from Aug. 11-13.
Nate Ulrich is the sports columnist of the Akron Beacon Journal and a sports features writer. Nate can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. On Twitter: @ByNateUlrich.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score tonight vs. Mets. How Cleveland’s offense flopped
Reporting by Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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By Nate Ulrich, Akron Beacon Journal | USA TODAY Network
