The Cleveland Guardians ended their recent four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles with a split after losing Sunday’s game 9-5. Despite winning the first two games, the Guardians dropped the final two to even the series.
Here are some key takeaways from Sunday’s matchup:
**Tough Day for Gavin Williams**
Guardians’ starting pitcher Gavin Williams struggled significantly, showing signs of regression after his strong performances against the Detroit Tigers. The young right-hander allowed six runs on eight hits and two home runs over just four innings. Sunday’s game marked Williams’ poorest outing of the season, with the six runs he surrendered being the most he has given up in 2024.
Despite his difficulties, Gavin Williams managed to record seven strikeouts, indicating he still has strong stuff. Moving forward, the 25-year-old will need to demonstrate more consistency, especially against tougher opponents.
**Guardians’ “Big Three” Can’t Carry the Offense Alone**
Aside from Steven Kwan, Jose Ramirez, and Josh Naylor, the Guardians’ lineup struggled to produce in Sunday’s game. The trio accounted for six of the team’s 10 hits and four of the five runs scored. Lane Thomas and David Fry were hitless, with Thomas also striking out three times.
Andres Gimenez stood out with a solid 2-for-4 performance, but the Guardians need more hitters to contribute in crucial moments to support their key players.
**Connor Gillispie Shows Potential in MLB Debut**
Manager Stephen Vogt may have found a promising addition to the bullpen in Connor Gillispie, who impressed in his MLB debut.
The 26-year-old rookie allowed just one run over three innings and struck out three batters. While the bullpen has been excellent all season, Sunday’s game highlighted the value of having depth in the pitching staff.
With Emmanuel Clase and Cade Smith taking a two-game break, it was encouraging to see Gillispie handle multiple innings effectively and demonstrate his capacity for extended pitching stints.
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