Game Recap 9/23/23 | Guardians Lose to the Orioles 2-1

Post-Game Live Recap

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3 Things About Guardians Loss to the Baltimore Orioles

1 – One Hit 

Andres Gimenez got the only Guardian’s hit on Saturday night with a home run in the bottom of the 7th.  Gimenez is having a great September, hitting above .350.

2 –  Logan Allen IL

It was announced on Saturday that the Guardians are putting starting pitcher Logan Allen on the IL with shoulder inflammation effectively ending his season.  Allen is not seriously hurt and Michael Kelly is back with the club.

3 – Bo Injury Update  

Bo Naylor left Friday’s game because of a bruised thumb and x-rays did come back negative.  He should be back before the season is complete

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Game Summary

In Saturday night’s game, John Means took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning, and Anthony Santander drove in two runs, leading the Baltimore Orioles, who are currently leading the AL East, to a 2-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians.

Means, a 30-year-old left-handed pitcher, was making his third start in 17 months after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The only hit for Cleveland came when Andrés Giménez hit a 406-foot home run on a changeup in the seventh inning. Means (1-1) allowed just three baserunners in 7 1/3 innings, with a walk, a hit batter, and Giménez’s homer. He threw a season-high 96 pitches and struck out four batters. This performance marked a significant step for Means, who had only pitched five innings in each of his first two outings since returning from surgery on April 27 last year.

With this win, Baltimore, which has secured its first postseason berth since 2016, maintained a 1 1/2-game lead over the second-place Tampa Bay Rays in the division, as well as the best record in the American League. The Orioles have seven games remaining and hold the tiebreaker over the Rays.

Yennier Cano retired both batters he faced in the eighth inning, while Cionel Pérez closed out the game in the ninth inning, earning his third save of the season.

Santander contributed to the Orioles’ victory by doubling in rookie Gunnar Henderson in the first inning and singling home James McCann in the sixth inning. Giménez was the only Cleveland player to advance past first base.

On the Guardians’ side, starting pitcher Cal Quantrill (3-7) pitched four innings, allowing one run, five hits, and four walks while striking out four. He maintained an impressive 1.95 ERA in five September outings.

Cleveland rookie catcher Bo Naylor, who had bruised his right thumb the day before, was kept out of the game as a precautionary measure. Shortstop Gabriel Arias left the game in the fifth inning after being struck on the right wrist by a pitch from Means.

Trainers Room

Logan Allen (left shoulder inflammation) was placed on the 15-day injured list, ending his season after 24 starts and 125 1/3 innings. Allen was 7-8 with a 3.81 ERA and 119 strikeouts, ranking sixth among AL rookies in victories and strikeouts.

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Up Next

In the final game of the four-game series, right-handed pitcher Kyle Gibson (14-9, 5.00 ERA) will face off against Guardians’ right-handed pitcher Triston McKenzie (0-1, 4.50 ERA). McKenzie, who is set to return from the injured list for his first start since June 10, has battled persistent shoulder and elbow injuries throughout the season.

Saturday 9/24 1::40 PM EST – Series Finale vs. Orioles