Guardians Sweep Angels as Team Struggles with Fifth Loss in Six Games
CLEVELAND — In a commanding performance, the Cleveland Guardians closed out their three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels with a 4-2 victory on Wednesday. Angel Martinez set the tone with a leadoff home run, while rookie pitcher Parker Messick added to his impressive resume, helping the Guardians secure the sweep.
Martinez belted his homer off Angels pitcher Reid Detmers (1-4), contributing to Cleveland’s impressive home record against the Angels at Progressive Field, improving to 30-4 since 2015. This record marks the best home performance against a single opponent in Major League Baseball over that span.
Messick (5-1) displayed his skills over 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and four hits. After a shaky start that saw him walk two in the first two innings, the left-hander settled down effectively. Relief pitchers Erik Sabrowski and Cade Smith closed the game by striking out the side in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, with Smith earning his 13th save.
Angels player Zach Neto hit a two-run home run, offering a glimmer of hope amid the team’s struggles, as they have now lost 11 of their last 12 games on the road.
Martinez, batting in place of the resting Steven Kwan, secured his first career leadoff homer on Detmers’ fourth pitch. He had previously hit a homer in Tuesday’s win and just narrowly missed a second. The Guardians quickly capitalized on their lead, adding another run in the first inning from an infield groundout by David Fry, and extending their advantage to 3-0 in the third with a sacrifice fly from rookie Chase DeLauter.
Neto, looking to break free from a performance slump, was moved from first to sixth in the batting order by Angels manager Kurt Suzuki. This adjustment proved beneficial, as Neto hit his seventh homer in the fifth inning, reducing the deficit to 3-2 following a single by Oswald Peraza. However, the Guardians responded with an insurance run in the sixth, courtesy of Daniel Schneemann’s RBI single.
Following an off day, the Angels will return home to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in a three-game series, with right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (2-2, 3.97) slated to start.
