Game Recap 3/28/24| Guardians Beat the Oakland A’s 8-0

Post-Game Recap

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3 Things Around The Game

1 – Bieber!

What a start to the 2024 season for Guardians ace Shane Bieber.  Bieber pitched six shutout innings, only giving up four hits while striking out eleven.  He became only the sixth player to have at least three Opening Day starts with at least ten strikeouts. 

2 – Bottom of the lineup

The Guardians’ last four hitters collected five RBIs in the season opener. Tyler Freeman went 2 for 3 with one RBI, Andres Gimenez went 1 for 3 with an RBI, Austin Hedges went 1 for 4 with an RBI, and Brayan Rocchio went 2 for 3 with two RBIs. 

3 – Offense explosion

It is only one game, but it was great to see eight runs in game one, and everybody in the Guardians lineup got on base at least once. 

Congrats, Stephen Vogt, on win number one!

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Game Summary

Shane Bieber showcased his dominance on the mound, tallying 11 strikeouts over six scoreless innings, while David Fry delivered a stellar performance with three hits. Stephen Vogt celebrated a victorious start to his managerial tenure as the Cleveland Guardians triumphed over the Oakland Athletics with an impressive 8-0 victory on Thursday night.

Bieber, the recipient of the 2020 Cy Young Award, maintained his streak of opening day starts with a solid outing, limiting the Athletics to just four hits across six innings of work.

“It’s a testament to the hard work we’ve put in, and I’m committed to staying focused and doing what’s necessary,” Bieber commented. “We’re off to a good start, individually and as a team, and I’m excited to see where we go from here.”

Vogt, formerly a player for the A’s across two stints spanning six seasons, stepped into his new role with aplomb after retiring in 2022. His managerial debut proved successful as the Guardians secured the win.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” Vogt expressed. “When your team puts up early runs and Bieber delivers like he did, it’s a great way to kick things off.”

The Guardians seized control of the game with a five-run surge in the fourth inning, forcing A’s starter Alex Wood out of the contest and establishing a commanding 6-0 lead.

Key hits in the pivotal inning included an RBI single from Andrés Giménez, a two-run infield single from Austin Hedges, and a two-run double by Brayan Rocchio.

Wood, a veteran pitcher in his 12th season, endured a rough outing, yielding six runs in 3 1/3 innings in his first opening day start.

“My stuff felt good overall, and these things tend to even out over the season,” Wood remarked.

Despite Wood’s solid effort, A’s manager Mark Kotsay acknowledged the unfortunate breaks that contributed to the outcome.

“He didn’t surrender many hard-hit balls,” Kotsay noted. “It was just unfortunate that they found the gaps and the holes.”

The announced attendance for the A’s home opener was 13,522, significantly lower than the previous year’s turnout of 26,805. The diminished crowd size was partly attributed to a fan-led boycott organized in the parking lot to protest the team’s potential relocation to Las Vegas.

Following a disappointing 2023 season marked by 112 losses, the A’s underwent significant roster changes, retaining only two players from last year’s opening day lineup: right fielder Seth Brown and catcher Shea Langeliers.

Up Next

Game 2 of the Series at Oakland A’s Friday Night