Key pieces of Cleveland’s bullpen bunch made their highly anticipated spring debuts Saturday, looking a lot like the dominant relievers that carried the Guardians to a division title and playoff run in 2024
Cleveland was already trailing the Cubs by four runs at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, when Cade Smith, Tim Herrin and Hunter Gaddis took the mound. But the trio combined to allow just one run on three hits with a walk and five strikeouts as the Guardians suffered a 7-4 exhibition loss to Chicago.
Ben Lively grinds through a scoreless outing in Guardians’ 3-1 spring training win against Colorado
Left-hander Joey Cantillo, who made his second spring start, struggled with his command, walking four and allowing four runs with a pair of strikeouts.
Juan Brito, competing for the starting second base job, blasted a solo home in the ninth off ex-Royals righty Brad Keller. It was Brito’s first hit in nine spring at-bats. He had struck out in four of his previous eight plate appearances.
Smith, Herrin and Gaddis were among four Guardians relievers (along with Emmanuel Clase) who each made at least 74 appearances and posted an ERA under 2.00. The Guardians made it clear early in camp that all four would roll out slowly after pitching deep into the playoffs last year.
Smith allowed a pair of soft singles but struck out the side in the third inning.
Herrin followed with two strikeouts of his own in a 1-2-3 fourth.
Gaddis walked the first batter he faced in the fifth, Dansby Swanson, and allowed a fly ball to Carson Kelly that center fielder Angel Martinez misplayed into a double. Vidal Brujan plated Swanson with an RBI sacrifice fly, but Gaddis retired the final two batters he faced after issuing a walk to Jon Berti.
Chicago hitters ran up Cantillo’s pitch count in the first inning after the Hawaii native allowed a leadoff double to Ian Happ and a one-out RBI single to Seiya Suzuki that put the Cubs in front. Carson Kelly added an RBI base hit before Cantillo was lifted for depth camp pitcher Zane Morehouse.
Morehouse Came on to get a ground ball double play off the bat of Vidal Brujan to end the first inning, and got the final out the second after Cantillo re-entered to start the inning and gave up a two-run single to Suzuki.
Guardians starters managed just one hit against Cubs starter Collin Rea, a one-out double by Tyler Freeman in the first. Rea finished with a pair of strikeouts and two walks in three innings.
Cleveland did not record another hit until the seventh, when Cooper Ingle dumped a base hit into center field against ex-Royals righty Brad Keller.
Former Cleveland prospect Julian Merryweather retired the side in order for the Cubs in the fourth, striking out a pair. Merryweather was a fifth round pick of Cleveland in 2014 and was part of a 2018 trade that sent him to Toronto in exchange for Josh Donaldson.
Guardians prospects Dyan Frias drove in a run in the eighth with a ground out after Kahlil Watson opened the inning with a triple. Yordys Valdes followed with a solo home run against Keller. It was the first hit and second RBI for Valdes in five spring at-bats.
Carlos Perez launched his first Cactus League home run in the bottom of the eighth off Guardians righty Jack Leftwich. It was the fourth earned run Leftwich allowed in two outings this spring.
Jorge Burgos followed Brito’s home run in the ninth with a triple to left field and scored on a ground out by Ingle.
The Guardians spring record dropped to 2-6, while Chicago improved to 7-0-3.
In good hands: Guardians bench coach Craig Albernaz managed the club in Mesa on Saturday and will do the same when the Brewers come to Goodyear Ballpark on Sunday. Manager Stephen Vogt is attending his daughter’s softballo turnament in the Phoenix area.
