An epic sixth inning by the Guardians helped produce an 8-6 win over the Nationals on Wednesday May 7, giving them their second straight series win on a two-city road trip.
The Guardians spent less than 24 hours playing the three games in Washington D.C., May 6-7, and totaled 26 runs in that time period. Washington threw seven wild pitches over the course of the three games, with Cleveland scoring on four of those. The two teams split a doubleheader May 6 after a rain out the previous night.
The Guardians sent 13 men to the plate in the sixth on Wednesday, scoring eight runs on six hits. There also were three walks, a hit by pitch, two wild pitches and a stolen base during the sixth.
The eight runs in the inning are a season high for Cleveland.
Big hits by Carlos Santana and Angel Martinez keyed the inning.
The sixth inning began with the Nationals leading 3-0 and Washington starter Michael Soroka fully in charge. He had struck out eight and allowd just two hits through five innings.
Then the sixth began. The Guardians’ first seven hitters reached, as they twice loaded the bases with no outs, and all seven eventually came around to score.
Santana unloaded them the first time when he tied the game with a three-run double off Soroka, ending his day. When the next two Guardians reached base to reload them, Martinez broke the tie with a two-run single.
After a Nolan Jones sacrifice bunt put runners at second and third, a wild pitch gave Cleveland a sixth run, as Bo Naylor raced home from third. A Brayan Rocchio ground out scored Martinez with the seventh run.
José Ramírez later added an RBI single, which scored Steven Kwan with the eighth run of the frame.
The eight-run inning helped the Guardians overcome a rocky performance by starter Logan Allen. He lasted just four innings, giving up three runs (all earned) on seven hits and four walks. He struck out three.
Cleveland’s bullpen needed to cover the final five innings, as the Guardians used seven relievers. Joey Cantillo (1-0, 1.96) pitched a scoreless fifth inning to earn the win and Emmanuel Clase picked up his eighth save after a scoreless ninth.
Carlos Santana, Daniel Schneemann swinging hot bats for Guardians entering May 7
Carlos Santana and Daniel Schneemann are providing quite the power surge for the Cleveland Guardians.
The duo looks to remain hot this afternoon as the Guardians and host Washington Nationals play the rubber match of their three-game series.
Santana continues to pay dividends after signing a one-year, $12 million contract in December. The 39-year-old collected four hits during Tuesday’s doubleheader and has two homers and six RBIs in his last five games overall.
“I know my team needs me, so I try to have fun,” Santana said, per Cleveland.com. “My approach has been one day at a time, thinking one day at a time, playing hard, preparing and trying to help the team win.”
He did precisely that in the second game of the doubleheader.
Santana belted a three-run homer and Schneemann went deep for the third time in four games in Cleveland’s 9-1 romp on Tuesday. The Guardians, who dropped a 10-9 decision in the first game, are 6-2 in their last eight contests overall.
“Hitting the slider out, that’s been one of the big things,” Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said of Schneemann. “We know (Schneemann) hits fastballs, but he’s starting to really make good adjustments on off-speed.”
Austin Hedges also homered in the nightcap.
“Hedgie leads the dugout, leads the team and he can hit,” Vogt said. “He had two really good swings tonight. He’s been swinging the bat, getting on base, doing his thing and it was really cool to get a homer, like a little baseball gods’ little tip of the cap.”
Nationals manager Dave Martinez wasn’t going to let his team’s lopsided loss get him down. The setback, after all, came on the heels of the team’s three-game winning streak.
“This year, they believe that they can win. They can. You’ve seen it,” Martinez said. “I’m not going to harp on them. It’s been a couple long days, and we’ve got a chance to win another series tomorrow. We’ve been playing well.”
What time do the Guardians play today?
First pitch is 12:05 p.m. ET on May 7.
Guardians vs. Nationals pitching probables: Logan Allen vs. Michael Soroka
Cleveland left-hander Logan Allen (1-2, 4.02 ERA) will take the mound this afternoon against Washington right-hander Michael Soroka (0-1, 7.20), who is expected to be activated off the 15-day injured list.
Allen saw his winless stretch extend to three starts on May 2 despite allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits in 5 2/3 innings of a no-decision against the Toronto Blue Jays.
He’s permitted two earned runs or fewer in four of his last five trips to the mound.
Allen, 26, has yet to face the Nationals in his career.
Soroka is returning to the mound for Washington for the first time since sustaining a strained right biceps on March 31.
He fared well in his latest rehab assignment for Triple-A Rochester, allowing one run while striking out 11 batters.
“I felt pretty good,” Soroka said, per MASN. “Everything was coming out pretty good and I can’t complain about that. Ultimately, we got to the full pitch count. Yeah, I felt really good.”
Soroka, 27, is 0-1 with a 5.27 ERA in three career starts against Cleveland.
Guardians games yesterday | Highlights
Cleveland won the second game 9-1 after Washington rallied to win the first game 10-9. Here’s some of the Guardians’ highlights:
Hedgey hits a big homer to extend the lead to 8.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/aIRR8mkF3J
Greatest baseball player of all time?#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/E9q5wyP54Y
Carlos is cooking. #GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/plVSm3oNO5
How about a 6-run inning?
That’s #GuardsBall, baby. pic.twitter.com/YQj6pJfmnG
Some fireworks early in the District of Columbia.#GuardsBall pic.twitter.com/8NeJLaB5yu
MLB standings: AL Central Division
Guardians schedule | Upcoming games
After an off day May 8, the Guardians open a three-game series at home with the Phillies at 7:10 p.m. May 9. The two play at 6:10 on May 10 and 7:10 on May 11. The latter game is on ESPN as its “Sunday Night Baseball” game of the week. Cleveland’s six-game homestand continues May 12-14 when the Guardians host the Brewers.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Guardians score | Cleveland uses huge 6th inning to beat Nationals, win series
Reporting by Field Level Media / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
