Post-Game Live Recap

3 Things About Guardians Victory over the Blue Jays

1 – Brilliant Bibee 

Gavin Williams was wonderful on Monday night and Tanner Bibee followed that up with seven shutout innings while striking out six on Tuesday. 

2 – Laureano!

What a debut for Ramon Laureano making a great grab in the 1st, hitting the game-winning RBI double in the 2nd, and holding the runner at 2nd in the top of the 9th with a cannon of a throw to 3rd base. 

3 – Clase in Session 

The Blue Jays did not hit the ball out of the infield, but they had runners on 1st and 3rd with two outs in the 9th, but Emmanuel Clase got the final out in the 9th for his 30th save of the season. 

Game Summary

Tanner Bibee delivered an exceptional seven-inning performance on the mound, while Ramón Laureano made a strong impression in his debut for Cleveland, securing a narrow 1-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday evening.

Bibee, boasting an 8-2 record, skillfully managed the game, conceding six singles – three of which came from Whit Merrifield. His remarkable consistency continued, remaining unbeaten across his last nine starts. Displaying his prowess as a right-handed pitcher, Bibee struck out six batters and demonstrated veteran composure by escaping a tense bases-loaded situation.

In a remarkable transition from Oakland, Laureano, newly acquired through waivers, announced his presence with authority. In the second inning, he notched an RBI double against Yusei Kikuchi (9-4), who allowed three hits during his seven innings on the mound.

Trevor Stephan took over the pitching duties in the eighth inning, followed by Cleveland’s closer, Emmanuel Clase, who skillfully navigated through two infield singles in the ninth to secure his 30th save of the season. The game concluded with Clase retiring pinch-hitter Alejandro Kirk on a center-field flyout, effectively extinguishing Toronto’s last attempt at a comeback.

The Blue Jays saw their four-game winning streak come to an end, with their road record since June 20 standing at 14-5.

Cleveland’s José Ramírez, currently appealing a three-game suspension resulting from an altercation with Chicago’s Tim Anderson, struggled at the plate, going 0 for 3. The timeline for Ramírez’s appeal hearing with the commissioner’s office remains uncertain.

After serving a one-game suspension tied to his involvement in the Anderson-Ramírez incident, Guardians manager Terry Francona returned to the dugout.

Bibee, who has shown consistent improvement throughout the season, encountered a challenging situation in the third inning. The Blue Jays managed three consecutive one-out singles before the determined right-hander, riding a 6-0 record since June 18, secured a critical strikeout against George Springer. He followed this by striking out Daulton Varsho, effectively quelling Toronto’s offensive threat.

While Bibee showcased his mastery on the mound, Kikuchi displayed equal resilience for the Blue Jays. After Laureano’s impactful double, Kikuchi went on to retire 17 of 18 batters.

Despite the challenges of an overnight flight from San Francisco, Laureano arrived in Cleveland at 6 a.m. He exhibited enthusiasm to be included in the lineup on his first day and capitalized on this fresh start by delivering a pivotal hit in his initial at-bat. In the second inning, Oscar Gonzalez began the momentum with an infield single, setting the stage for Laureano’s impactful hit down the third-base line and into the corner.

Trainers Corner

Cal Quantrill (shoulder) will begin his rehab assignment for Triple-A Columbus at Toledo on Wednesday. Quantrill last pitched for the Guardians on July 5 before he was shut down just a week after being activated from the injured list. … Francona said starting RHPs Shane Bieber (elbow) and Triston McKenzie (elbow) continue to make progress as the team holds out hope they’ll be back in 2023. “They’re not close to pitching,” Francona said. “But by all accounts, they’re doing OK, and I’d rather hear that than something else.”

Up Next

Wednesday 8/9 7:10 PM EST – Game 3 vs. Toronto Blue Jays

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