Game Recap 7/18/23 | Guardians Beat Pirates 10-1

July 18, 2023

Andy Billman

Observations from the Game


3 things About Guardians Victory Over the Pittsburgh Pirates

1 – First inning explosion 

Cleveland took no time settling into the game on Tuesday night.  Steven Kwan led off the game with a double and Amed Rosario followed him with an RBI single to make it 1-0.  On the next pitch, Jose Ramirez singles to left bringing up the hottest hitter in MLB, Josh Naylor with two on.  The next pitch gets belted to deep right, a 404-foot bomb for Naylor to make it 4-0 in seven pitches against all-star Mitch Keller. 

Andres Gimenez got a single making it five straight hits for the Guardians before recording an out.  After Josh Bell and Will Brennan both grounded out, Myles Straw got an RBI single to make it 5-0. 

2 – Naylor another big night 

Josh Naylor not only got a homer in the first inning but did it again in the 9th, a 2-run shot giving him 6 RBIs on Tuesday. Naylor also extended his hitting streak to nine games.

3 – Welcome Back 

Lefty Logan Allen pitched five shutout innings and only gave up one hit on 77 pitches earning his 4th victory on the season.  Allen’s last win was on June 3rd against the Twins in Minnesota. 


Game Summary

In Tuesday night’s game, the Cleveland Guardians dominated the Pittsburgh Pirates with a resounding 10-1 victory. Josh Naylor played a pivotal role in the Guardians’ triumph, delivering two home runs and driving in a total of six runs.

Naylor wasted no time making an impact, launching a three-run homer in the first inning against the Pirates’ All-Star pitcher, Mitch Keller. This shot ignited a five-run outburst that set the tone for the game. It only took seven pitches from Keller before Naylor put the Guardians ahead 4-0. Keller was making his first appearance since the All-Star Game in Seattle, where he had pitched one inning.

Naylor struck again in the ninth inning, smacking a two-run blast, his 15th home run of the season, off Yohan Ramirez. His consistent power display throughout the game propelled the Guardians to their commanding victory.

The Guardians’ offensive prowess wasn’t limited to Naylor alone. Steven Kwan kickstarted the game with a double and later scored on Amed Rosario’s single. Jose Ramirez followed with a single of his own, setting the stage for Naylor’s explosive home run to right-center field. Myles Straw contributed to the first-inning surge with an RBI single.

After being swept in a series against the AL West-leading Texas, the Guardians rebounded strongly, winning the first two games against the Pirates by a combined score of 21-1.

On the pitching front, rookie left-hander Logan Allen, who was called up from Triple-A Columbus prior to the game, delivered an exceptional performance. He tossed five scoreless innings, allowing only one hit, which came in the fifth inning courtesy of Jared Triolo. Allen struck out eight batters and walked just one, showcasing his skill and composure on the mound.

On the other hand, Keller endured a challenging outing for the Pirates, surrendering eight runs and ten hits over six innings.

The Pirates managed to salvage a lone run in the sixth inning when Connor Joe connected for a solo homer off Eli Morgan. However, it was not enough to spark a comeback. Pittsburgh’s struggles continued as they suffered their fifth consecutive loss since the All-Star break, with a dismal 2-12 record in July.

Andres Gimenez stood out for the Guardians, contributing three hits to their total of 13, further solidifying their offensive dominance.

With their commanding victory, the Cleveland Guardians showcased their power at the plate and strong pitching performance, establishing their control over the series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.


Roster Move

The Guardians optioned right-hander Cody Morris to Columbus as the corresponding move for Allen’s call-up. Morris has made four relief appearances for Cleveland this season and allowed four runs in four innings.


Up Next

Wednesday 7/19 12:30 PM EST – Series Finale at Pittsburgh Pirates

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