News and Notes: Guardians Come Home, Destroy A’s
News and Notes for Saturday, April 20th, 2024
The Guardians made the Oakland Athletics look like a bad team again, beating them 10-2 Friday night.
The big question was how Triston McKenzie would look. He had a shaky first, including giving up a MASSIVE bomb to Abraham Toro, but then he settled in and his mechanics seemed to be improved. Three hits, three walks and six strikeouts in five innings on 84 pitches is marked improvement, albeit against a pretty poor Oakland lineup. Guardians fans should still be encouraged, and hopefully McKenzie will feel good as he recovers from the start in the week ahead.
Manager Stephen Vogt was encouraged:
"Solo shots don't beat you."
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) April 20, 2024
Stephen Vogt explains why he thought the lead off home run from the As helped Triston McKenzie in his outing today. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/2mfkmedyPw
Meanwhile, the Guardians’ offense was amazing, with three hits from Estevan Florial and two hits, including a home run, from Tyler Freeman, and a homer late from Josh Naylor. Here’s a series of highlights from the run production, from a hilarious 89 mph opposite field shot:
Welcome to the Tyler Freeman Show. #ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/YHfI1Z27tZ
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) April 19, 2024
...to a five-run rally:
Ladies and gentlemen, we present a 5-run inning.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/QOnWADs8V9
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 20, 2024
...to this laser:
We're done scoring ... Just Joshin'.#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/RpXqTVJeex
— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) April 20, 2024
Perhaps the play of the game was this outstanding catch from Freeman in center who has taken to the position like a duck to water.
TYLER FREEMAN OH MY GOODNESS.
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) April 19, 2024
What a snag!#ForTheLand pic.twitter.com/FPdAX0wgmp
Jac Caglianone hit ANOTHER home run:
NINE-straight games with a homer!
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) April 20, 2024
Cags TIES the all-time NCAA record! #GoGators // ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/yFCRKsRD0C
So did Braden Montgomery:
Lead extended ✅#GigEm x @B_mont_ pic.twitter.com/j4D7MhHzD0
— Texas A&M Baseball (@AggieBaseball) April 19, 2024
...Twice:
I believe that's a shot from the LH and RH side today. That puts him in 2nd place in the HR chase and 22. https://t.co/piJb6783pF
— Willie Hood (@WillHoo99) April 19, 2024
Around MLB:
The Twins lost AGAIN. To the Tigers, sadly.
The Royals won AGAIN.
Juan Soto is very, very good.