News and Notes: Guardians Regain their Pulse, Bury Rangers 13-5

The Guardians let out a month’s-worth of frustrations on the Rangers’ pitching staff

To say this team just emptied out the frustrations of the last month or two on one team may be the understatement of the century. This was such a needed jolt of energy to hopefully get the team in the right direction moving further down the line. But right now, let’s unpack how this game went down.

Ben Lively was in trouble early, letting up a first inning run. But he didn’t allow any further runners to cross the plate despite loading the bases. In fact, that wasn’t even foreboding for how the rest of his start would go, as he went on and threw 6.2 innings of three-run ball. He K’ed four, walked one and allowed five hits, most of those coming during that first inning. So as always, Ben would lock in after his usual heart attack inning like he’s always done this year.

But the big catalyst that turned this game upside down is a big person himself, Jhonkensy Noel. Big Christmas went 3-5 and hit ANOTHER home run, his eleventh of the year! As a result of this bomb, Jhonk has capped off one of the best 40-game starts to a career in Cleveland baseball history.

Not only that, But Jhonkensy was a triple short of the cycle! And, don’t look now, but he has posted a sub-40% chase rate over his last ten games, which could be massive. But right now, just enjoy the show because Noel is truly doing something great.

Other homers all came from guys who were deep in their own struggles at the plate: Jose Ramirez, and Josh and Bo Naylor. Speaking of struggles, Steven Kwan also got in on the fun, (or actually started it) by delivering a two-run double in the 2nd that gave the Guardians a 3-1 lead at the time.

In Minor League news, George Valera is continuing to be excellent at the plate. He hit yet another homer, his fourth in four games! I expect him to get called up soon, because the production he has given the Clippers over the last forty or so days of baseball can make him a notable benefactor to the team’s success in September and October.

Gabriel Arias has also continued his red-hot streak at the plate for Columbus as well! Arias mashed his fifth bomb Saturday, which traveled 394 ft.