#520---Dominican Republic @ Japan, 2/1/2025 (Caribbean Series)

 

This was Japan’s first-ever Caribbean Series game, and the team which did not draw on NPB talent was handled 12-1 by the major leaguers, ex-major leaguers, and future major leaguers of the Dominican Republic. It didn’t help that Japanese pitchers coughed up nine walks, or that their catcher committed a “balk” in the third inning, or that three runs came home on wild pitches. 

#519---OAK @ CLE, 4/19/2024

 

Abraham Toro touched up Triston McKenzie for a leadoff homer, and Brent Rooker went deep off Scott Barlow in the ninth. In between it was all Cleveland as Joe Boyle was allowed to cough up seven runs over six innings, highlighted by Tyler Freeman’s go-ahead two-run homer in the second. The Guardians only stranded two runners, so despite the 10-2 score there wasn’t a ton of traffic and the game wrapped up in a snappy 2:15.

#518---STL @ SEA, 4/21/2023

 

Jordan Walker’s two-out, two-run double in the second off George Kirby opened the scoring, but it would be tough sledding for St. Louis from there as they managed just one hit against 22 outs for the rest of the game, with Seattle’s bullpen pitching three perfect innings to close it out. Seattle got a big game from Teoscar Hernandez who was 2-3 with a double, homer, walk, RBI, and three runs scored. 

#517---OAK @ CLE, 6/9/2022

 

I attended this game at Progressive Field, and remember it as being a frustrating one most of the game. The A’s took a 2-0 lead on Christian Bethancourt’s homer in the second, and the Guards did little until the Jose Ramirez and Josh Naylor woke the crowd up with back-to-back homers leading off the fourth. After Konnor Pilkington got the first two outs in the sixth, a Bethancourt single (he’d go for 3-4 with a double as well) and Elvis Andrus double chased Pilkington. The gentleman sitting in front of me noticed that I had been peaking at the bullpen several times and expressed displeasure when I told him Bryan Shaw was coming in, predicting a double. He was right as Matt Davidson hit one to deep center to put Oakland up 4-2.

The Guards plated a run in the bottom of the inning, but Terry Francona was ejected arguing for obstruction when Steven Kwan was pinned at second on Naylor’s lineout. Kwan would single in the seventh to tie it, and then Cleveland rallied for four off of Lou Trivino in the eighth to win it 8-4. Cleveland’s rookies played a huge part in this one; Pilkington’s start was just adequate, but Kwan went 3-4 with a walk, steal, and RBI, Oscar Gonzalez went 4-4 with a double, run, and RBI, and Richie Palacios’ pinch-hit two-run double in the eighth broke it open.